Der Lindenbaum
Am Brunnen vor dem Tore,
Da steht ein Lindenbaum;
Ich träumt' in seinem Schatten
So manchen süßen Traum.
Da steht ein Lindenbaum;
Ich träumt' in seinem Schatten
So manchen süßen Traum.
By the well before the gate
there stands a linden tree;
in its shade I dreamed
so many a sweet dream.
there stands a linden tree;
in its shade I dreamed
so many a sweet dream.
Ich schnitt in seine Rinde
So manches liebe Wort;
Es zog in Freud' und Leide
Zu ihm mich immer fort.
So manches liebe Wort;
Es zog in Freud' und Leide
Zu ihm mich immer fort.
In its bark I carved
so many a loving word;
in joy and in sorrow
it always drew me to it.
so many a loving word;
in joy and in sorrow
it always drew me to it.
Ich mußt' auch heute wandern
Vorbei in tiefer Nacht,
Da hab' ich noch im Dunkel
Die Augen zugemacht.
Vorbei in tiefer Nacht,
Da hab' ich noch im Dunkel
Die Augen zugemacht.
Today, too, I had to walk
past it in the depth of night,
and even in the darkness
I closed my eyes.
past it in the depth of night,
and even in the darkness
I closed my eyes.
Und seine Zweige rauschten,
Als riefen sie mir zu:
„Komm her zu mir, Geselle,
Hier find'st du deine Ruh'!"
Als riefen sie mir zu:
„Komm her zu mir, Geselle,
Hier find'st du deine Ruh'!"
And its branches rustled
as if they were calling to me:
"Come here to me, my friend,
here you will find your rest!"
as if they were calling to me:
"Come here to me, my friend,
here you will find your rest!"
Die kalten Winde bliesen
Mir grad' ins Angesicht,
Der Hut flog mir vom Kopfe,
Ich wendete mich nicht.
Mir grad' ins Angesicht,
Der Hut flog mir vom Kopfe,
Ich wendete mich nicht.
The cold winds blew
straight into my face,
my hat flew from my head,
I did not turn around.
straight into my face,
my hat flew from my head,
I did not turn around.
Nun bin ich manche Stunde
Entfernt von jenem Ort,
Und immer hör' ich's rauschen:
„Du fändest Ruhe dort!"
Entfernt von jenem Ort,
Und immer hör' ich's rauschen:
„Du fändest Ruhe dort!"
Now I am many hours
away from that place,
and still I hear it rustling:
"There you would find rest!"
away from that place,
and still I hear it rustling:
"There you would find rest!"
About the song. The fifth song of Winterreise, Schubert's cycle about a rejected lover walking alone through winter. The tree's rustling, drawn by the piano's murmuring triplets, tempts the wanderer with 'rest', a rest the listener understands as death. A simplified version later became a German folk song.
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Translation © Art Song Translations. You may print it free of charge in concert and recital programs with the credit "Translation: Art Song Translations". The German text is in the public domain; repetitions made by the composer are not printed.
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