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Ich fragte dich, warum dein Auge gern In meinem Auge ruht, So wie ein reiner Himmelsstern In einer dunklen Flut. Du sahest lang mich an, Wie man ein Kind mit Blicken mißt, Und sagtest freundlich dann: Ich bin dir gut, weil du so traurig bist.
About the headline (FAQ)
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 42.
Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Ich fragte dich", written 1898, appears in Maria, no. 4 [author's text checked 2 times 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):
- by Werner Bühler (1904 - 1968), "Ich fragte dich, warum dein Auge" [ voice and piano ], from Drei Lieder, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892 - 1959), "Ich fragte dich, warum dein Auge", op. 97 no. 4 (>>1942?), published 1958 [ voice and piano ], from Liederfolge nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Eduard Pütz , "Ich fragte dich, warum dein Auge gern ", 1951 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Lieder nach Texten von Hermann Hesse, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Christian Immo Schneider (b. 1935), "Ich fragte dich ", op. 7 no. 6 [ high voice and piano ], from Zehn romantische Lieder für mittlere Stimme nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 6 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Xaver Zintl (1903 - 1987), "Ich fragte dich warum dein Auge gern", 1949 [ baritone and piano ], one of two settings [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Xaver Zintl (1903 - 1987), "Ich fragte dich ", op. 8 no. 3 (1950) [ baritone and piano ], from Maria - Liederzyklus für Bariton, no. 3, one of two settings [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 45
I asked you why your eyes so gladly Rest in mine, Like a pure star of heaven In a dark flood You gazed at me for a long time, The way one looks over a child, And then you said in friendly way: I am kindly disposed toward you because you are so sad.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Ich fragte dich" = "I asked you"
"Ich fragte dich, warum dein Auge" = "I asked you why your eyes "
"Ich fragte dich warum dein Auge gern" = "I asked you why your eyes so gladly"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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 Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Ich fragte dich", written 1898, appears in Maria, no. 4
This text was added to the website: 2018-05-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 54