[Lyrics Translation] Strauss "Morgen! (Tomorrow)" | Reading a Masterpiece Depicting Quiet Happiness
Tomorrow, I will see you again
"Morgen! (Tomorrow)" is a song composed by Richard Strauss in 1894, the fourth piece of his Opus 27.
This collection was a wedding gift from Strauss to his wife, the soprano Pauline de Ahna. The poem is by the Scottish-born German poet John Henry Mackay.
In contrast to the intense passion of "Cäcilie" or "Heimliche Aufforderung," a quiet sense of happiness flows through "Morgen!"
"When tomorrow comes, the sun will rise again, and we will be reunited."
It is a masterpiece where such conviction in the future and gentle affection spread as quietly as waves.
The beautiful violin prelude is also famous, and it is known as one of the most popular works among Strauss's songs.
German Lyrics / English Translation
Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen,
And tomorrow the sun will shine again,
Und auf dem Wege, den ich gehen werde,
And on the path that I will walk,
Wird uns, die Glücklichen, sie wieder einen
It will reunite us, the happy ones,
Inmitten dieser sonnenatmenden Erde.
Amidst this sun-breathing earth.
Und zu dem Strand, dem weiten, wogenblauen,
And to the shore, wide and blue with waves,
Werden wir still und langsam niedersteigen,
We will descend quietly and slowly,
Stumm werden wir uns in die Augen schauen,
Silently we will look into each other's eyes,
Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen.
And the mute silence of happiness will sink upon us.
Vocabulary and Phrase Commentary
morgen
tomorrow
the sun
Sun
to shine
shine, glow
path
way
to walk
walk, proceed
the happy ones
happy people
In this song,
"the happy couple"
makes the scene of the poem easier to convey.
one
to unite, to make one
A literal translation would be
the sun unites us again
but,
the happy couple becomes one again
makes for a more natural English translation.
In the midst of
in the middle of
in the center of
breathing in the sun
Like breathing in the sun
It is a poetic compound word typical of Strauss.
Here,
where sunlight breathes
is used to maintain the beauty of the Japanese translation.
Erde
Earth
Strand
Beach, shore
weit
Wide, endless
wogenblau
Blue like waves
woge (wave) + blau (blue)
A beautiful coined word typical of Strauss.
still
Quietly, softly
langsam
Slowly
niedersteigen
descending
There is an image of slowly walking down from a high place.
stumm
silently
without words
in die Augen schauen
gazing into the eyes
Literally translated as
looking into the eyes
but,
gazing into each other's eyes
is a more natural translation.
Schweigen
silence
stillness
des Glückes stummes Schweigen
the wordless silence of happiness
These are the words that symbolize this song.
There is no need for words to speak of love,
just looking at the same scenery,
and sharing the same time.
That quiet sense of happiness
is condensed into this final passage.
What this song depicts
"Morgen! (Tomorrow)" is not a song of passionate love.
Rather,
"The silence that remains after everything has been said"
is a work that sings of this.
The conviction that we will meet again tomorrow.
The earth filled with sunlight.
The shore with blue waves.
And a time that needs no words.
In this work, Strauss depicts the most gentle and beautiful moment of happiness in life.
Conclusion
When you know the meaning of the lyrics, the song becomes even freer.
I will continue to compile lyrics translations, word explanations, and background information for Italian and German art songs.
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