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Stehe still!
by Richard Wagner From Wesendonck Lieder (1858) WWV 91

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Text & Translation View IPA Display Inline

Stehe still! Stand still!

German source: Mathilde Wesendonck English translation © Richard Stokes

Sausendes, brausendes Rad der Zeit, Rushing, roaring wheel of time,

Messer du der Ewigkeit;
Leuchtende Sphären im weiten All,
Die ihr umringt den Weltenball;
Urewige Schöpfung, halte doch ein,
Genug des Werdens, laß mich sein!
You that measure eternity;
Gleaming spheres in the vast universe,
You that surround our earthly sphere;
Eternaal creation - cease:
Enough of becoming, let me be!

Halte an dich, zeugende Kraft, Hold yourselves back, generative powers,

Urgedanke, der ewig schafft!
Hemmet den Atem, stillet den Drang,
Schweiget nur eine Sekunde lang!
Schwellende Pulse, fesselt den Schlag;
Ende, des Wollens ew'ger Tag!
Daß in selig süßem Vergessen
Ich mög' alle Wonne ermessen!
Primal Thought that always creates!
Stop your breath, still your urge,
Be silent for a single moment!
Swelling pulses, restrain your beating;
Eternal day of the Will - end!
That in blessed, sweet oblivion
I might measure all my bliss!

Wenn Auge in Auge wonnig trinken,
Seele ganz in Seele versinken;
Wesen in Wesen sich wiederfindet,
Und alles Hoffens Ende sich kündet,
Die Lippe verstummt in staundendem
Schweigen,
Keinen Wunsch mehr will das Innre zeugen:
Erkennt der Mensch des Ew'gen Spur,
Und löst dein Rätsel, heil'ge Natur!
When eye gazes blissfully into eye,
When soul drowns utterly in soul;
When being finds itself in being,
And the goal of every hope is near,
When lips are mute in silent wonder,
When the soul wishes for nothing more:
Then man perceives Eternity's footprint,
And solves your riddle, holy Nature!

Composer

Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, theatre director,

and conductor.

Poet

Mathilde Wesendonck
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Mathilde Wesendonck (23 December

The Festival 1828 – 31 August 1902) was a
German poet and author. The words of five of her verses were the
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basis of her friend Richard Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder. Read
more here. Discover Song

Performances

Previously performed at:

Rückert Lieder 25 Oct 2023

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