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I. Hast du schon je dich ganz allein gefunden, Lieblos und ohne Gott auf einer Heide, Die Wunden schnöden Mißgeschicks verbunden Mit stolzer Stille, zornig dumpfem Leide? War jede frohe Hoffnung dir entschwunden, Wie einem Jäger an der Bergesscheide Stirbt das Gebell von den verlornen Hunden, Wie's Vöglein zieht, daß es den Winter meide? Warst du auf einer Heide so allein, So weißt du auch, wie's einen dann bezwingt, Daß er umarmend stürzt an einen Stein; Daß er, von seiner Einsamkeit erschreckt, Entsetzt empor vom starren Felsen springt Und bang dem Winde nach die Arme streckt. II. Der Wind ist fremd, du kannst ihn nicht umfassen, Der Stein ist tot, du wirst beim kalten, derben Umsonst um eine Trosteskunde werben, So fühlst du auch bei Rosen dich verlassen; Bald siehst du sie, dein ungewahr, erblassen, Beschäftigt nur mit ihrem eignen Sterben. Geh weiter: überall grüßt dich Verderben In der Geschöpfe langen dunklen Gassen; Siehst hier und dort sie aus den Hütten schauen, Dann schlagen sie vor dir die Fenster zu, Die Hütten stürzen, und du fühlst ein Grauen. Lieblos und ohne Gott! der Weg ist schaurig, Der Zugwind in den Gassen kalt; und du? – Die ganze Welt ist zum Verzweifeln traurig.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Einsamkeit", written 1838, appears in Gedichte, in 4. Viertes Buch, in Sonette [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 Giselher Wolfgang Klebe (1925 - 2009), "Einsamkeit", op. 38 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4, published 1962 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Einsamkeit I/II", op. 70 no. 2 (1954-5) [ medium voice, orchestra ], from Nachhall: Liederfolge nach Gedichten von Nikolaus Lenau und Matthias Claudius, no. 2, Wien: Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Palmer) , "Loneliness", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Solitude", copyright © 2012, (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: 30
Word count: 202
I. Have you ever found yourself all alone, Loveless and without God on a moor, The wounds of base misfortune bandaged With silent pride, numb or angry suffering? Had all cheerful hopes disappeared from your view, Like a huntsman on a mountain precipice? Is the barking of the lost hounds dying away, As a little bird flies off to escape the winter? If you were ever so alone on a moor, Then you will know how one is forced To rush at a boulder, to embrace it; And how, being frightened by the loneliness, One leaps up in horror from the impassive rock And fearfully stretches one's arms to the wind. II. The wind is a stranger, and you cannot embrace it; The boulder is dead, you will seek in vain A comforting word from this cold, rough object; You will even feel abandoned by roses. Soon you see them, unaware of you, turned pallid, Occupied solely with their own dying. Go further forward: decay greets you everywhere In the long dark avenues of living creatures! Here and there you see them peering out of their huts, Then they slam their windows in your face, The huts go tumbling, and you feel a shudder. Loveless and without God! the path is awful, The wind blows cold in the alleys; and as for you? - The entire world is desperately sad.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Peter Palmer, (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 Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Einsamkeit", written 1838, appears in Gedichte, in 4. Viertes Buch, in Sonette
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-23
Line count: 30
Word count: 230