by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
Translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
Oh, Soon Return
Language: English
Our white sail caught the ev'ning ray, The wave beneath us seem'd to burn, When all the weeping maid could say Was, "Oh, soon return!" Through many a clime our ship was driven, O'er many a billow rudely thrown; Now chill'd beneath a northern heaven, Now sunn'd in summer's zone: And still where'er we bent our way, When evening bid the west wave burn, I fancied still I heard her say, "Oh, soon return!" If ever my bosom found Its thoughts one moment turn'd from thee, 'T was when the combat rag'd around, And brave men look'd to me. But though the war-field's wild alarm For gentle Love was all unmeet, He lent to Glory's brow the charm, Which made even danger sweet. And still, when vict'ry's calm came o'er The hearts where rage had ceas'd to burn, Those parting words I heard once more, "Oh, soon return! - Oh, soon return!"
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Oh, Soon Return" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876) , "Aus dem Englischen" ; composed by Constantin Decker, Carl Evers, Luise Adolpha Le Beau.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-09-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 151
Das Schiff zog eine Feuerspur
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
Das Schiff zog eine Feuerspur, Das Segel fing den letzten Blick Der Sonne; sie sprach weinend nur: "O, kehre bald zurück!" Wohl trieb mein Fahrzeug der Orkan Durch manches Meer, seitdem ich schied; Bald fuhr der Nordwind durch die Raa'n Und bald der laue Süd. Doch wenn, wo es auch immer lag, Das Meer beim letzten Sonnenblick Rot flammte, hört' ich, wie sie sprach: "O kehr' zurück! kehr' bald zurück!" Hab' je ich deiner nicht gedacht, War jemals dir mein Geist nicht nah, Dann war es mitten in der Schlacht, Wenn der Tapfern Aug' mich sah. Doch wenn auch im Gewühl des Streits Der Liebe Macht mir ferne war: Dem Ruhm verlieh nur sie den Reiz, Der süß macht die Gefahr! Und brachte dann der Sieg die Ruh', Und flammte stolz des Kriegers Blick, Dann wieder war's, als riefest du: "O kehr'zurück! Kehr' bald zurück!"
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876), "Aus dem Englischen" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Oh, Soon Return"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Constantin Decker (1810 - 1878), "O kehre bald zurück!", op. 20 (Drei Romanzen) no. 3, published 1841 [ voice and piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "O! kehre bald zurück!", op. 50, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Luise Adolpha Le Beau (1850 - 1927), "O kehre bald zurück", op. 29 (Zwei Gesänge) no. 2 [ low voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-09-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 145