Wanderer's Nightsong
Encyclopedia
"Wanderer's Nightsong" is the title of two poems by the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
published in 1776 and in 1780.
"Wanderer's Nightsong II has been called the most famous lyric poem in German literature. Goethe wrote it on the evening of September 6, 1780. It is an adaptation of a lyric by the Greek poet Alcman
.
:
Wandrers Nachtlied (German)
Ein Gleiches (German)
contains a requiem
-like piece for soprano and chorus in the exit music with Ein Gleiches as lyrics. In the film's context, the poem serves as a lament on the miscarried assasination on Adolf Hitler on July 20th, 1944, mourns the proximate death of most of the assasins, and with the last two lines forecasts the demise of those, who they failed to kill.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
published in 1776 and in 1780.
"Wanderer's Nightsong II has been called the most famous lyric poem in German literature. Goethe wrote it on the evening of September 6, 1780. It is an adaptation of a lyric by the Greek poet Alcman
Alcman
Alcman was an Ancient Greek choral lyric poet from Sparta. He is the earliest representative of the Alexandrinian canon of the nine lyric poets.- Family :...
.
Wanderer's Nightsong I
One translation is by Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
:
Thou that from the heavens art,
Every pain and sorrow stillest,
And the doubly wretched heart
Doubly with refreshment fillest,
I am weary with contending!
Why this rapture and unrest?
Peace descending
Come ah, come into my breast!
Wandrers Nachtlied (German)
Der du von dem Himmel bist,
Alles Leid und Schmerzen stillest,
Den, der doppelt elend ist,
Doppelt mit Erquickung füllest;
Ach, ich bin des Treibens müde!
Was soll all der Schmerz und Lust?
Süßer Friede,
Komm, ach komm in meine Brust!
Wanderer's Nightsong II
Up there all summits
are still.
In all the tree-tops
you will
feel but the dew.
The birds in the forest stopped talking.
Soon, done with walking,
you shall rest, too.
Ein Gleiches (German)
Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.
In popular culture
John Ottman's musical score for Bryan Singer's film ValkyrieValkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who decides who dies in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle , the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin...
contains a requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
-like piece for soprano and chorus in the exit music with Ein Gleiches as lyrics. In the film's context, the poem serves as a lament on the miscarried assasination on Adolf Hitler on July 20th, 1944, mourns the proximate death of most of the assasins, and with the last two lines forecasts the demise of those, who they failed to kill.