Alles, was ich bin [English translation]

If I were a star, they would invoke me

As yearning's emmisary,¹ as benevolent light,

Would honor me with wishes and songs

And many a verse.

If I were the wind, I could circle the earth,

Just for fun, without purpose or goal.

I could travel along with the migrating birds

Wherever I would.

If I were the sea, oh how I could face

The struggles of life with roaring might,

And surely bury my foe beneath my waves

In every battle.

If I were a storm, oh how I could rage

And drive before me all that displeased me,

Play, unmoved by begging or pleading,

My game with the world.

[Chorus]

But all that I am is a dreamer, a poet,

Who goes with his songs on fairy-tale journeys.

All that I am is stowaway

On the ship of fantasy.

And if you like, then dream with me.

If I were a brook, children would surely play

With stones and with branches in my bed.

They would laugh, and feel themselves safe and secure,

And think me quite nice.

If I were a mountain, they would look up to me²

For I would be great and wise and old.

They would fear me, and would be wary³

Of my power.

[Chorus]

But all that I am...

If I were a stone, oh how hard I could be,

Despising feelings and love and suffering.

And every yearning, I'd be spared from it all,

And from sadness.