New Feature Alert


It’s now easier than ever to see both the author's and the composer's versions of a text!

After more than a year in development, I'm thrilled to announce that we've finally implemented the ability to view "sung texts" with all the modifications by a given composer already applied. Over 10,000 pages will benefit from this improvement. It should especially benefit those of you who need accurate texts for concert programs and CD booklets.

I'm excited to share this new feature with all of you and hope that it enhances your experience on the LiederNet Archive. Take some time to explore and enjoy! — Emily

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Wenn Kummer hätte zu töten Macht
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Arabic (العربية) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Wenn Kummer hätte zu töten Macht,
Er müßte tötlich dies Herz durchbohren;
Und ließ' ein Glück sich zurückbeschwören,
Mein Seufzen hätt' es zurück beschworen.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Brahms 

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: this is an excerpt from a longer selection.

Confirmed with Die Verwandlungen des Abu Seid von Seruq oder die Makamen des Hariri von Friedrick Rückert, Vierte Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag der J. G. Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1864, page 36.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Si la pena tingués el poder de matar", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Als treurnis iemand vermoorden kon", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "If sorrow had the power to kill", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Si le chagrin avait le pouvoir de tuer", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 4
Word count: 24

If sorrow had the power to kill
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
If sorrow had the power to kill,
it would have stabbed fatally through this heart;
and if even a glimmer of happiness could have been summoned,
my sighs would have brought it back entirely.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 4
Word count: 34