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To the distant beloved
Song Cycle by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
View original-language texts alone: An die ferne Geliebte
1. Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend
Language: German (Deutsch)
Auf dem Hügel sitz ich, spähend In das blaue Nebelland, Nach den fernen Triften sehend, Wo ich dich, Geliebte, fand. Weit bin ich von dir geschieden, Trennend liegen Berg und Tal Zwischen uns und unserm Frieden, Unserm Glück und unsrer Qual. Ach, den Blick kannst du nicht sehen, Der zu dir so glühend eilt, Und die Seufzer, sie verwehen In dem Raume, der uns teilt. Will denn nichts mehr zu dir dringen, Nichts der Liebe Bote sein? Singen will ich, Lieder singen, Die dir klagen meine Pein! Denn vor Liedesklang entweichet Jeder Raum und jede Zeit, Und ein liebend Herz erreichet, Was ein liebend Herz geweiht!
Text Authorship:
- by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
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Note for stanza 5, line 1, word 3: Different editions of Beethoven's song have a discrepancy here. Peters Edition (n.d., reissued 1949) has "Liedesklang" but G. Schirmer has "Liebesklang" (1902, 1929).
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
1. On the hill sit I, peering
Language: English
On the hill sit I, peering Into the blue, hazy land, Toward the far away pastures Where I you, beloved, found. Far am I, from you, parted, Separating us are hill and valley Between us and our peace, Our happiness and our sorrow. Ah! The look can you not see, That to you so ardently rushes, And the sighs, they blow away In the space that separates us. Will then nothing more be able to reach you, Nothing be messenger of love? I will sing, sing songs, That to you speak of my pain! For before the sound of the song escapes every space and every time, And a loving heart reaches, What a loving heart has consecrated!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
Note for stanza 5, line 1, word 3: for "Liebesklang", this would be "the sound of love"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 118
Translation © by Lynn Thompson
2. Wo die Berge so blau
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wo die Berge so blau Aus dem nebligen Grau Schauen herein, Wo die Sonne verglüht, Wo die Wolke umzieht, Möchte ich sein! Dort im ruhigen Tal Schweigen Schmerzen und Qual. Wo im Gestein Still die Primel dort sinnt, Weht so leise der Wind, Möchte ich sein! Hin zum sinnigen Wald Drängt mich Liebesgewalt, Innere Pein. Ach, mich zög's nicht von hier, Könnt ich, Traute, bei dir Ewiglich sein!
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
2. Where the mountains so blue
Language: English
Where the mountains so blue Out of the foggy gray Look down, Where the sun dies, Where the cloud encircles, I wish I were there! There is the restful valley Stilled are suffering and sorrow Where in the rock Quietly the primrose meditates, Blows so lightly the wind, I wish I were there! There to the thoughtful wood The power of love pushes me, Inward sorrow, Ah! This moves me not from here, Could I, dear, by you Eternally be!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 80
Translation © by Lynn Thompson
3. Leichte Segler in den Höhen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Leichte Segler in den Höhen, Und du, Bächlein klein und schmal, Könnt mein Liebchen ihr erspähen, Grüßt sie mir viel tausendmal. Seht ihr, Wolken, sie dann gehen Sinnend in dem stillen Tal, Laßt mein Bild vor ihr entstehen In dem luft'gen Himmelssaal. Wird sie an den Büschen stehen, Die nun herbstlich falb und kahl. Klagt ihr, wie mir ist geschehen, Klagt ihr, Vöglein, meine Qual. Stille Weste, bringt im Wehen Hin zu meiner Herzenswahl Meine Seufzer, die vergehen Wie der Sonne letzter Strahl. Flüstr' ihr zu mein Liebesflehen, Laß sie, Bächlein klein und schmal, Treu in deinen Wogen sehen Meine Tränen ohne Zahl!
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
3. Light veils in the heights
Language: English
Light veils in the heights, And you, little brook, small and narrow, Should my love spot you, Greet her, from me, many thousand times. See you, clouds, her go then, Meditating in the quiet valley, Let my image stand before her In the airy heavenly hall. If she near the bushes stands, Now that autumn is faded and leafless, Lament to her, what has happened to me, Lament to her, little birds, my suffering! Quiet west, bring in the wind To my heart's chosen one My sighs, that pass As the last ray of the sun. Whisper to her of my love's imploring, Let her, little brook, small and narrow, Truly, in your waves see My tears without number!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 119
Translation © by Lynn Thompson
4. Diese Wolken in den Höhen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Diese Wolken in den Höhen, Dieser Vöglein muntrer Zug, Werden dich, o Huldin, sehen. Nehmt mich mit im leichten Flug! Diese Weste werden spielen Scherzend dir um Wang' und Brust, In den seidnen Locken wühlen. Teilt ich mit euch diese Lust! Hin zu dir von jenen Hügeln Emsig dieses Bächlein eilt. Wird ihr Bild sich in dir spiegeln, Fließ zurück dann unverweilt!
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
4. These clouds in the heights
Language: English
These clouds in the heights, These birds gaily passing, Will see you, my beloved. Take me with you on your light flight! These west winds will play Joking with you about your cheek and breast, In the silky curls will dig. I share with you this pleasure! There to you from this hill Busily, the little brook hurries. If your image is reflected in it, Flow back without delay!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 69
Translation © by Lynn Thompson
5. Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au
Language: German (Deutsch)
Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au, Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau, Geschwätzig die Bäche nun rinnen. Die Schwalbe, die kehret zum wirtlichen Dach, Sie baut sich so emsig ihr bräutlich Gemach, Die Liebe soll wohnen da drinnen. Sie bringt sich geschäftig von kreuz und von quer Manch weicheres Stück zu dem Brautbett hierher, Manch wärmendes Stück für die Kleinen. Nun wohnen die Gatten beisammen so treu, Was Winter geschieden, verband nun der Mai, Was liebet, das weiß er zu einen. Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au. Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau. Nur ich kann nicht ziehen von hinnen. Wenn alles, was liebet, der Frühling vereint, Nur unserer Liebe kein Frühling erscheint, Und Tränen sind all ihr Gewinnen.
Text Authorship:
- by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
Note for stanza 3, line 2, word 7 ("hierher") : some editions of Beethoven's song have "hieher"; the spelling can be found as well in Tonkünstler-Versammlung zu Weimar, zugleich als Vorfeier zu Ludwig van Beethoven's 100jährigen Geburtsfeste, 1870, page 24.
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
5. May returns, the meadow blooms
Language: English
May returns, the meadow blooms, The breezes they blow so softly, so mildly, Chattering, the brooks now run. The swallow, that returns to her hospitable roof, She builds, so busily, her bridal chamber, Love must dwell there. She brings, so busily, from all directions, Many soft pieces for the bridal bed, Many warm pieces for the little ones. Now live the couple together so faithfully, What winter has separated is united by May, What loves, that he knows how to unite. May returns, the meadow blooms, The breezes they blow so softly, so mildly, Only I cannot go away from here. When all that loves, the spring unites, Only to our love no spring appears, And tears are our only consolation.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 121
Translation © by Lynn Thompson
6. Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder
Language: German (Deutsch)
Nimm sie hin denn, diese Lieder, Die ich dir, Geliebte, sang, Singe sie dann abends wieder Zu der Laute süßem Klang. Wenn das Dämmrungsrot dann ziehet Nach dem stillen blauen See, Und sein letzter Strahl verglühet Hinter jener Bergeshöh; Und du singst, was ich gesungen, Was mir aus der vollen Brust ohne Kunstgepräng erklungen, Nur der Sehnsucht sich bewußt: Dann vor diesen Liedern weichet Was geschieden uns so weit, Und ein liebend Herz erreichet Was ein liebend Herz geweiht.
by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
6. Take, then, these songs
Language: English
Take, then, these songs, That I to you, beloved, sang, Sing them again in the evenings To the sweet sounds of the lute! When the red twilight then moves toward the calm, blue lake, And the last ray dies behind that hilltop; And you sing, what I have sung, What I, from my full heart, Artlessly have sounded, Only aware of its longings. For before these songs yields, What separates us so far, And a loving heart reaches For what a loving heart has consecrated.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1997 by Lynn Thompson, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alois (Isidor) Jeitteles (1794 - 1858)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 85
Translation © by Lynn Thompson