Erlkönig von Goethe (Deutsche Lyrik)

A reading in German of the poem "Erlkönig" by Goethe.

A quick note to apologise for the mispronunciations and anywhere where the tone did not match the meaning of the words. This was the first time I'd seen many of these German words, but reading this poem aloud was a fun way of practising my German ;)

English Translation from Wikipedia:
Who rides here so late through night and wind?
It is a father with his small child.
He holds his son firm in his arms
He clasps him safely, he keeps him warm.

"My son, oh why do you look so afraid?"
"See Father, don't you see the Erlking is there?
The Erlking, Erlking with crown and cloak?"
"My son, it's a wisp of mist."

"My dearest child, come, go with me!
all kinds of games I'll play with you;
such lovely flowers bloom on the bank,
and my mother has many golden clothes."

"My father, my father, and do you not hear,
What erlking promises sweetly to me?"
"Stay peaceful, oh stay calm, dearest child;
In leaves so dry there rustles the wind."

"Will you dear boy, will you come with me
My daughters soon they will wait on you;
My daughters lead in the nightly dance
And sway and dance and beckon to you."

"My father, my father, and do you not see,
The Erlkings daughters in that dark place?"
"My son, my son, I see it so clear:
Tis only the ancient willows so grey."

"I love you, your fine figure attracts me so much;
And if you're not willing, I'll take you by force."
"My father, my father, he's grasping me now!
Erlking has hurt me, has hurt me!"

The father shudders, he quickens his pace,
He holds in his arms the groaning child.
He reaches home with haste and dread;
In his arms, the child was dead.

Original German:
Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?
Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind;
Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm,
Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm.

"Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?"
"Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht?
Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif?"
"Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif."

"Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir!
Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir;
Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,
Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand."

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,
Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?"
"Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind;
In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind."

"Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn?
Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;
Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn,
Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein."

"Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort
Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?"
"Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau:
Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau."

"Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt."
"Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!"

Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,
Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Müh' und Not;
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.

*The introduction music was "Harbor" from iMovie HD.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• erlkoenig
• erlkönig
• german
• poem
• deutsch
• lyrik
• poetry
• johann
• wolfgang
• von
• goethe
• learning
• language
• practice
• theravenofpoe

[Spiritakis]

As a non-native speaker who tries, unsuccessfully, to learn German, I can sympathise with your difficulties with the pronunciation. You certainly did a much better job with Erlkönig than me. Now you only need to add the passion and the drama. Then it will be perfect.

Ever tried to sing Schubert's song? Now, that's truly an impossible task!

Keep on reading and speaking German. Lovely language with a good deal to offer in terms of literature.

[TheRavenOfPoe]

@Spiritakis Thank you, I certainly will! :)

Singing in English is a challenge for me, let alone in German, hehe!

[apoleon2010]

I like your presentation of "Der Erlkönig". You definitely did not choose an easy poem. I also watched some of your other vids and i like your perception of the world. In other words:

Bleib wie du bist und lass dich nicht unterkriegen.

[TheRavenOfPoe]

@apoleon2010 Thank you very much :)

[lensky94]

ich find es so süß wenn englisch-sprechende personen ch immer als k sagen...

aber du hast das echt super gemacht!!!

ich würde nie freiwillig deutsch lernen...

[TheRavenOfPoe]

@lensky94 hehe, danke! :)

[hauerich07]

ich liebe es wenn ausserdeutsche dieses hohe Gut ehren!

[betlamed]

@RHKhuit418 Erreicht den Hof mit Müh und Not - der Knabe lebt; das Pferd war tot.

[betlamed]

@SeraphinaZoe Ich hab immer gedacht, das Kind ist todkrank und der Erlkönig ist quasi ein Tod-als-Freund. Pädophilie war für den antikenschwärmenden Goethe sicher kein Thema, vor dem man warnen müsste (Griechen und kleine Jungs und so), und ich glaube nicht, dass Goethe sonderlich abergläubisch war (dazu sind seine Sachen viel zu aufklärerisch).

Die Interpretation mit der Parabel auf das Erwachsenwerden hat allerdings auch was!

[betlamed]

That is a really good effort for an english-speaking person. Plus, you just sent me off a german-literature youtube binge. I never knew that there was so much Goethe online! Have you listened to Kinski's or Oskar Werner's interpretations of Prometheus and Erlkönig? Definitely worth a watch, if you want to learn further.

(And by the way, I love those little pronounciation errors, like pronouncing ch as k, and that you always say "son" instead of "Sohn" - there is something sweet to accents.)

[Annaconda1984]

great effort

[NataschaSunny]

gut !!! good

[zerstoertesherz]

dont know how long you speak german and but it isnt that bad keep on and you will speak it perfectly

[EAPoeProductions]

Dearest Lady Jennifer!

Four years have passed now since you´ve read this poem and many comments have been written. Some of them friendly, others not. I did the Erlkönig myself but i also did some readings in English lately, so i know how difficult it is interpreting lyrics like this in another language. Of course there are mistakes but nevertheless it is well presented and we should feel honored you did this job. Have many thanks for this!

With my kindest regards Your servant

Edgar Allan Poe

[venediktos91]

@lensky94 halt diese meinung fuer dich...es gibt menschen in der welt die sich wuenschen deutsch als muttersprache haben.