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Ich trage, wo ich gehe, stets eine Uhr bei mir; Wieviel es geschlagen habe, genau seh ich an ihr. Es ist ein großer Meister, der künstlich ihr Werk gefügt, Wenngleich ihr Gang nicht immer dem törichten Wunsche genügt. Ich wollte, sie wäre rascher gegangen an manchem Tag; Ich wollte, sie hätte manchmal verzögert den raschen Schlag. In meinen Leiden und Freuden, in Sturm und in der Ruh, Was immer geschah im Leben, sie pochte den Takt dazu. Sie schlug am Sarge des Vaters, sie schlug an des Freundes Bahr, Sie schlug am Morgen der Liebe, sie schlug am Traualtar. Sie schlug an der Wiege des Kindes, sie schlägt, will's Gott, noch oft, Wenn bessere Tage kommen, wie meine Seele es hofft. Und ward sie auch einmal träger, und drohte zu stocken ihr Lauf, So zog der Meister immer großmütig sie wieder auf. Doch stände sie einmal stille, dann wär's um sie geschehn, Kein andrer, als der sie fügte, bringt die Zerstörte zum Gehn. Dann müßt ich zum Meister wandern, der wohnt am Ende wohl weit, Wohl draußen, jenseits der Erde, wohl dort in der Ewigkeit! Dann gäb ich sie ihm zurücke mit dankbar kindlichem Flehn: Sieh, Herr, ich hab nichts verdorben, sie blieb von selber stehn.
Authorship:
- by Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875) [author's text not yet checked 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 Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Die Uhr", op. 123 no. 3, published 1830 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Die Uhr", op. 52 no. 2 (1855?) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , "The watch", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "L'orologio", copyright © 2006, (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: 20
Word count: 206
Wherever I go, i carry a watch with me: Whatever the time is, it tells me exactly. It was a great master, who made this work of art, All the same its timekeeping isn't always enough for my foolish wishes. I wish, some days, it would go faster I wish, sometimes, it would delay its rushing movement, In my sorrows and joys, in storm and in peace, Whatever is going on in life, it ticks out its rhythm. It ticked at my father's coffin, it ticked at my friend's bier, It ticked on the morning of love, it ticked at the wedding altar, It ticked at my children's cradle, it will tick -- God willing -- still more When better days come, as my soul hopes. And if one day it gets lazy and threatens to stop its course, Then the courageous master will wind it again. But if one day it stops still, then he will have made it happen No other than the one who made it, will make the broken watch work. The must I go to the master, who lives at the end, far off, Far outside, the other side of the earth, over there in eternity! Then I will give it him back, with thanks and childlike tears, See, Lord, I have not broken it, it stopped by itself.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by David Wyatt, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875)
This text was added to the website: 2007-11-16
Line count: 20
Word count: 222