Songs
Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne
(1888)
Op. 19 no.3
Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne
Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne,Die Gaben karg, die sie verleihn;Für einen deiner Blicke gerneHin geb’ ich ihren goldnen Schein!Getrennt, so daß wir ewig darben, Nur führen sie im JahreslaufDen Herbst mit seinen Ährengarben,Des Frühlings Blütenpracht herauf.Doch deine Augen—o, der Segen Des ganzen Jahres quillt überreichAus ihnen stets als milder Regen, Die Blüte und Frucht zugleich.
Beautiful but cold are the stars of heaven
Beautiful but cold are the stars of heaven, Meagre the gifts that they bestow;For just one of your glancesI’d gladly forego their golden gleam!Apart, so that we suffer without end, They only bring throughout the year The autumn with its sheaves of corn And springtime’s splendid flowering.But your eyes, ah, a whole year’s blessing Cascades abundantly from themOn flowers and fruit like incessant gentle rain, Blossom and fruit together.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
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Composer
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.
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Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne
Schön sind, doch kalt die Himmelssterne,
Die Gaben karg, die sie verleihn;
Für einen deiner Blicke gerne
Hin geb’ ich ihren goldnen Schein!
Getrennt, so daß wir ewig darben,
Nur führen sie im Jahreslauf
Den Herbst mit seinen Ährengarben,
Des Frühlings Blütenpracht herauf.
Doch deine Augen—o, der Segen
Des ganzen Jahres quillt überreich
Aus ihnen stets als milder Regen,
Die Blüte und Frucht zugleich.
Beautiful but cold are the stars of heaven
Beautiful but cold are the stars of heaven,
Meagre the gifts that they bestow;
For just one of your glances
I’d gladly forego their golden gleam!
Apart, so that we suffer without end,
They only bring throughout the year
The autumn with its sheaves of corn
And springtime’s splendid flowering.
But your eyes, ah, a whole year’s blessing
Cascades abundantly from them
On flowers and fruit like incessant gentle rain,
Blossom and fruit together.
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.
Read more here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
About Oxford Lieder
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