01 February 2010

Der Erlkönig







“My father, my father, don’t you hear
What Erlkönig is quietly promising me?”
Be calm, stay calm, my child;
The wind is rustling through withered leaves.”
YouTube video link of Der Erlkönig by Schubert

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? 
Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;
Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,
Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm.


"Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?" —
"Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht?
Den Erlkönig mit Krön und Schweif?" —
"Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif."


"Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!
Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir;
Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,
Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand." —


"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,
Was Erlkönig mir leise verspricht?" —
"Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;
In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind." —


"Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehen?
Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;
Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn,
Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein." —


"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort
Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?" —
"Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. —"


"Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." —
"Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!" —


Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,
Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Müh' und Not;
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.


I was really moved by this!
Profoundly changed, actually.
When I get "moody" I always listen to German music.
Seems to fit the mood.
"Der Erlkönig"  by Schubert.
There you'll find an English translation.
Monster Drink, protein today,
coffee, water, two eggs, brisket.
Not much more today...


This just in:
I did not stay calm today...
The song - it haunts me!
I got sick as a dog...
A German Sheppard, no doubt.
But thanks for your kind words and comments.
Got Jägermeister?

14 comments:

  1. I lived in Germany during Operation Desert Storm.
    I love German, but mine is now virtually non-existent!

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  2. i dig snicker doodles!

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  3. A good German beer would be good, too. German music used to scare me!

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  4. My father's branch of the family originates from Germany. Nouremburg. I probably spelled that wrong. We always thought we were French. Nope. That's the other branch. :)

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  5. Don't forget Bratwurst, and Oktobeterfest, and Weißbier (wheat beer).
    I thought I had a little German in me, once, too!

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  6. Sorry your not feeling well. love to listen but don't understand a thing. Feel better sooon!

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  7. I work in a place where all the people speak German as their first language. I wish I could speak it.
    It would be kinda interesting to go to an Oktoberfest.
    Hope you feel better?

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  8. Danke schön, Cinner and missykanna -
    It came over me suddenly....
    Probably just a sickening panic attack at finally realizing that a certain phase of my life is over forever....and no matter how much I want it (which is with all my heart) it will not comeback.
    It's not a "dark place" as much as it as a "sick green place" with a rising tide of blue. And gray from the withering leaves of the song.

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  9. I love today's music.

    I hope a gentle wind brings new colors to light.

    Feel better.

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  10. Hey Anne, The music is beautiful but the English translation is heartbreaking.

    Sorry you're feeling green. Could it be the flu again-- Oy, I hope not.

    Hang in there.

    jj

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  11. I hope you're feeling more at peace today, Anne. Yesterday was a tough day for me as well. Today, a little better.

    For some unknown reason I took German in high school. I also sat directly behind Stacey Furguson of the Black Eyed Peas during my sophomore year. I'm still waiting for her to include some German lyrics in one of their tunes.

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