I have a glowing knife,
A knife in my chest,
Oh woe! Oh woe!
It cuts so deeply in every joy and every happiness,
So deep, so deep!
Oh, what an evil guest this is!
Oh, what an evil guest this is!
It never keeps still, never stops to rest!
Not in the day, nor in the night if I sleep!
Oh woe! Oh woe!
Oh woe!
When I look into the skies,
I see two blue eyes!
Oh woe! Oh woe!
When I go through golden fields,
I see from afar her blonde hair blowing in the wind!
Oh woe! Oh woe!
When I come out of a dream
And hear, resounding, her silver laughter,
Oh woe! Oh woe!
I wish that I were lying on the black bier,
And could never, never open my eyes!***
The two blue eyes of my beloved,
Which have sent me into the wide world.
Now I must take leave
From my dearest place!
Oh blue eyes, why did you glance upon me?
Now I have eternal sorrow and grief.
I went out in the still night,
In the still night, well over the dark heath;
Nobody bid me farewell.
Farewell! Farewell!
My companions were love and sorrow!
By the street stands a linden tree,
There I rested for the first time in sleep!
Under the linden tree!
Which snowed its blossoms over me.
There I didn't know how life went on,
And everything, everything was good again!
Ah, everything was good again!
Everything! Everything!
Love, and sorrow, and world, and dream!
