Sei mir gegrüßt, du große

Sei mir gegrüßt, du große,
Geheimnisvolle Stadt,
Die einst in ihrem Schoße
Mein Liebchen umschlossen hat.

Sagt an, ihr Türme und Tore,
Wo ist die Liebste mein?
Euch hab ich sie anvertrauet,
Ihr solltet mir Bürge sein.

Unschuldig sind die Türme,
Sie konnten nicht von der Stell,
Als Liebchen mit Koffern und Schachteln
Die Stadt verlassen so schnell.

Die Tore jedoch, die ließen
Mein Liebchen entwischen gar still;
Ein Tor ist immer willig,
Wenn eine Törin will.

by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) , no title, from Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 17

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

by Arthur Hervey (1855-1922) , "Sei mir gegrüßt", published 1890, from Neue Liebeslieder, no. 8, note: also set in English
by Arnold Mendelssohn (1855-1933) , "Sei mir gegrüßt", 1878.
by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803-1883) , "Tor und Torin", published 1851, from Die Heimkehr : 88 Gedichte aus H. Heine's Reisebildern, no. 17.

ENG English (Emma Lazarus)
FRE French (Pierre Mathé)

Date added to the website: 2007-07-11.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

All hail to thee, thou fairest

All hail to thee, thou fairest
   And most mysterious town!
That once inclosed my dearest
   Within thy gateways brown. 

Speak out, ye towers and portals!
   My sweetheart, where is she?
I left her in your keeping;
   Ye should my warders be. 

The towers are not guilty,
   For rooted fast were they.
When sweetheart with trunks and luggage,
   So quickly stole away. 

The gates gave willing passage,
   With noiseless bars and locks.
A door will always open,
   When the adorer knocks.

by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) , from Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, published 1881

a text in German by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) , no title, from Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 17 FRE

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: 2008-04-18.