In einem kühlen Grunde by Georg Mühlberg (1863-1925)
In einem kühlen Grunde, da geht ein Mühlenrad,
mein Liebchen ist verschwunden, das dort gewohnet hat.
Sie hat mir Treu' versprochen, gab mir ein' Ring dabei,
sie hat die Treu' gebrochen, das Ringlein sprang entzwei.
Ich möcht' als Spielmann reisen wohl in die Welt hinaus
und singen meine Weisen und geh' von
Haus zu Haus.
Ich möcht' als Reiter fliegen wohl in die blut'ge Schlacht,
um stille Feuer liegen im Feld bei dunkler Nacht.
Hör' ich das Mühlrad gehen, ich weiß nicht, was ich will;
ich möcht' am liebsten sterben, da wär's auf
einmal still.
mein Liebchen ist verschwunden, das dort gewohnet hat.
Sie hat mir Treu' versprochen, gab mir ein' Ring dabei,
sie hat die Treu' gebrochen, das Ringlein sprang entzwei.
Ich möcht' als Spielmann reisen wohl in die Welt hinaus
und singen meine Weisen und geh' von
Haus zu Haus.
Ich möcht' als Reiter fliegen wohl in die blut'ge Schlacht,
um stille Feuer liegen im Feld bei dunkler Nacht.
Hör' ich das Mühlrad gehen, ich weiß nicht, was ich will;
ich möcht' am liebsten sterben, da wär's auf
einmal still.
| In einem kühlen Grunde Joseph von Eichendorff, 1810. Melodie: Friedrich Glück |
Two years later, after finishing his swan-song, the epic "Lucius," he died. There is hardly another
German poet who found so many composers for his songs. Above: Schloss Lubowitz then and now.
It is difficult to fathom that there would come a day when simply singing one of his German Silesian
folksongs could incur an automatic death sentence, or that lovely Schloss Lubowitz and the original
Eichendorff monument would be crudely levelled. The town is Polish now, its German citizens
expelled in 1945 by gunpoint, their homes and properties stolen. German inscriptions on old
gravestones were defaced to further obliterate the memory of their centuries long presence.
German poet who found so many composers for his songs. Above: Schloss Lubowitz then and now.
It is difficult to fathom that there would come a day when simply singing one of his German Silesian
folksongs could incur an automatic death sentence, or that lovely Schloss Lubowitz and the original
Eichendorff monument would be crudely levelled. The town is Polish now, its German citizens
expelled in 1945 by gunpoint, their homes and properties stolen. German inscriptions on old
gravestones were defaced to further obliterate the memory of their centuries long presence.
"The last champion of romanticism" was a nobleman born on March 10, 1788, in the
Upper-Silesian castle of Lubowitz near Ratibor. Duke Eichendorff matriculated at the
University of Halle and became a follower of the Romantic School of poetry. His first
poems were printed in Berlin, among them the famous song 'In einem kühlen Grunde'.
The young baron fought against Napoleon, married and became a lawyer in Breslau.
Upper-Silesian castle of Lubowitz near Ratibor. Duke Eichendorff matriculated at the
University of Halle and became a follower of the Romantic School of poetry. His first
poems were printed in Berlin, among them the famous song 'In einem kühlen Grunde'.
The young baron fought against Napoleon, married and became a lawyer in Breslau.
In 1820, he received an educational position at Danzig and took a lively
interest in the restoration of the Marienburg, a castle of the Teutonic Order
and inspiration for his tragedy "Der letzte Held von Marienburg." His most
popular production was "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts." In 1831,
Catholic Eichendorff was called to Berlin as councillor in the high office of the
ministry of public worship. The following years were spent mostly in Berlin,
where Eichendorff devoted his genius to the history of literature, and he wrote
a definitive history of the poetical literature of Germany. After the death of his
wife in 1855, he lived with his family at Neisse.
interest in the restoration of the Marienburg, a castle of the Teutonic Order
and inspiration for his tragedy "Der letzte Held von Marienburg." His most
popular production was "Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts." In 1831,
Catholic Eichendorff was called to Berlin as councillor in the high office of the
ministry of public worship. The following years were spent mostly in Berlin,
where Eichendorff devoted his genius to the history of literature, and he wrote
a definitive history of the poetical literature of Germany. After the death of his
wife in 1855, he lived with his family at Neisse.
| A Song To Die For |