Du bist die Ruh
Du bist die Ruh,
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du,
Und was sie stillt.
Der Friede mild,
Die Sehnsucht du,
Und was sie stillt.
You are rest,
gentle peace,
you are longing
and what stills it.
gentle peace,
you are longing
and what stills it.
Ich weihe dir
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung hier
Mein Aug' und Herz.
Voll Lust und Schmerz
Zur Wohnung hier
Mein Aug' und Herz.
To you I consecrate,
full of joy and pain,
as a dwelling here
my eyes and my heart.
full of joy and pain,
as a dwelling here
my eyes and my heart.
Kehr' ein bei mir,
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die Pforten zu.
Und schließe du
Still hinter dir
Die Pforten zu.
Come in to me,
and close
quietly behind you
the gates.
and close
quietly behind you
the gates.
Treib andern Schmerz
Aus dieser Brust!
Voll sei dies Herz
Von deiner Lust.
Aus dieser Brust!
Voll sei dies Herz
Von deiner Lust.
Drive every other pain
out of this breast!
Let this heart be full
of your joy.
out of this breast!
Let this heart be full
of your joy.
Dies Augenzelt,
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll' es ganz!
Von deinem Glanz
Allein erhellt,
O füll' es ganz!
This tent of my eyes,
lit by your radiance
alone,
O fill it completely!
lit by your radiance
alone,
O fill it completely!
About the song. One of Schubert's most still and spacious songs. The short lines of Rückert's poem unfold over a gently rocking piano; the famous climb to a long high note on 'erhellt' ('lit up') asks for perfect breath control, which is why the song is a favourite test of a singer's legato.
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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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