Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte, WoO 138
Staff Notation • Secular, Lieder
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Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte, WoO 138 by Ludwig van Beethoven — Lyrics
About Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte, WoO 138
Beethoven's Als die Geliebte sich trennen wollte, WoO 138, is a single-line Lied for solo voice. The German text expresses a tumultuous inner conflict. Initially, the speaker laments the loss of hope as their beloved breaks their vows. There is a fleeting thought of wishing to forget past happiness, but this is immediately rejected. The memory of their love remains intensely sweet, even at the brink of despair. The poem shifts dramatically, pleading for hope to return, asserting that those who truly love can never feel entirely unhappy, even amidst suffering. The speaker ultimately declares an eternal devotion, unable to hate or forget the beloved, even if rejected.