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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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Das Sehnen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Wehmuth, die mich hüllt,
Welche Gottheit stillt
Mein unendlich Sehnen?
Die ihr meine Wimper näßt,
Namenlosen Gram entpreßt,
Fliesset, fliesset Thränen!
 
Mond, der lieb und traut
In mein Fenster schaut,
Sage, was mir fehle?
Sterne, die ihr droben blinkt,
Holden Gruß mir freundlich winkt,
Nennt mir, was mich quäle.

Leise [Schauer wehn]1,
Süsses [Liebeflehn]2
Girrt um mich im Düstern.
Rosen und Violenduft
Würzen rings die Zauberluft,
Holde Stimmen flüstern.

In die Ferne strebt!
Wie auf Flügeln schwebt
Mein erhöhtes Wesen.
Fremder Zug, geheime Kraft,
Namenlose Leidenschaft,
Laß, ach laß genesen!

Aengstender beklemmt
Mich die Wehmuth, hemmt
Athem mir und Rede.
Einsam schmachten, o der Pein!
O des Grams, allein zu seyn
In des Lebens Oede.

Ist denn ach kein Arm,
Der in Freud' und Harm
Liebend mich umschlösse?
Ist denn ach kein fühlend Herz,
Keines, drinn in Lust und Schmerz
Meines sich ergösse?

Die ihr einsam klagt,
Einsam wenn es tagt,
Einsam wenn es nachtet.
Ungeströstet ach, verächzt
Ihr das holde Daseyn, lechzt,
Schmachtet und verschmachtet.

Available sung texts:   ← What is this?

•   F. Schubert 

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with L.T.Kosegarten's Poesieen, Neueste Auflage, Dritter Band, Berlin 1803, pages 12-14. This is the source used by Schubert. Kosegarten's poem is slightly different in later editions; it has the title "Sehnsucht" (see below).

1 Kosegarten (Leipzig 1802 and Berlin 1803 editions): "Schauerwehn" (misprint?)
2 Schubert: "Liebesflehn"

Text Authorship:

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

Another version of this text exists in the database.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L'anhel", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De hunkering", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Longing", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 42
Word count: 166