Farewell bliss and farewell Nancy

Farewell bliss and farewell Nancy,
Farewell fleeting joys of fancy;
Hopes and fears and sights that languish
Now give place to cureless anguish.
Why did I so fondly love thee?
Why to wearing sorrow bring thee?
Why let causeless slander sting thee?

Gazing on my precious treasure,
Lost in reckless dreams of pleasure,
Thy unspotted heart possessing,
Grasping at the promis'd blessing,
Pouring out my soul before thee,
Living only to adore thee,
Could I see the tempest brewing?
Could I dread the blast of ruin?

Had we never lov'd so kindly;
Had we never lov'd so blindly,
Never met, or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken hearted.
Fare thee well, thou first and fairest,
Fare thee well, thou best and dearest;
One fond kiss, and then we sever,
One farewell, alas! For ever.

by Anne Grant (1755-1838) , "Farewell bliss and farewell Nancy"

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) , "Farewell bliss and farewell Nancy", WoO. 152 (25 irische Lieder) no. 20, G. 223 no. 20 (1810/3). [two voices, violin, violoncello, piano]

GER German [singable] (G. Pertz)

Date added to the website: 2004-12-11.

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Lieb und Glück fahrt hin auf immer

 Lieb und Glück fahrt hin auf immer
 Traum auch du und all dein Schimmer;
 Hoffnung, Furcht und süßes Sehnen
 Muß zerschmelzen jetzt in Tränen.
 Mußt' ich drum so heiß dich lieben?
 Rühren dich zu gleichen Trieben?
 Schwer mit Gram dein Herz beladen?
 Deinem Leumund grundlos schaden?

 Starr in deinen Glanz versunken,
 Von dem Traum des Glückes trunken,
 Mein dein schuldlos Leben nennend,
 Auf der Zukunft Himmel brennend,
 Dir mein ganzes Herz ergebend,
 Dir nur atmend, dir nur lebend,
 Konnt' ich ferne Wetter schauen?

 Wenn wir nie uns doch besessen,
 Nie geliebt so schmerzvergessen,
 Nie gesehn uns, nie geschieden,
 Ungetrübt blieb' unser Frieden.
 Leb denn wohl, du Schönste, Erste,
 Leb denn wohl, du Beste, Hehrste;
 Einen Kuß noch, dann geschieden,
 Ein, noch ein Lebwohl hinieden!

Singable translation by G. Pertz , "Lieb und Glück fahrt hin auf immer"

a text in English by Anne Grant (1755-1838) , "Farewell bliss and farewell Nancy"

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

[ None yet in the database ]

Date added to the website: 2004-12-11.