Griechisches Lied [English translation]

A fishing boat sets out off the seaside, off the seaside

A fishing boat sets out off teensy Hydra1

and is going for sponge fishing, along the seaside, along the seaside

When the winter haze, snow and rain

the darkness, the darkness

are weighing heavy on my soul.

such a long time now, such a long time

I'm longing for the south

where my tired spirit

my frozen stiff members

my heart, all will be warmed by the sun

that's giving me again new strength at last

I will be then, after a long

journey in that place, in that place

(I will be) received as a good old friend.

The people there, the people there

who know me for years

I hear them calling out my name

and even strangers do;

the words mean: How good

that you came.

And there will be a warm south wind blowing

the desert sand, the desert sand

over here out of Africa

and over the land, over the land

the air shimmering from heat

While in the shady cool rooms (there will be)

a scent floating, like in my dreams,

of fully bloomed trees

and of wild flowers.

Once I'll get there I will never

go away again, go away again.

I still have many good years

till someone there, till someone there

by the sea amid the green vines

will bury me after a long life

where the temples are inhabited by gods

who look after and spare

those who seek peace close to them

1. A greek island