The title Fernweh was selected to reflect the melancholy ballad of this German term. Eventually, lyrics were written to attempt to convey this fascinating word. This arrangement for SSAATTBB includes a demanding development section that includes a reworking of the lyrics from the vocal solo version.

Fernweh lyrics:

Soon…

In my cocoon, I feel my wounds, My thoughts are strewn
Each day resumes, No thought immune, Whispers of gloom

Aching for home, In my own place, Never have known, Having my space
Sleepless at night, Lonely all day, Dreaming of friends, Nervous dismay

Toss and turn, Through the night, Bleary eyed, In the light
Anguished heart, Yearning soul, No hindsight

Lonely all day, Palette of gray, Nervous dismay
Dreaming by day, Sleepless dismay, To get away

Dight… 

Nothing seems right, My chest feels tight, It’s fight or flight
Craving new sight, New verse to write, My homesick plight

Toss and turn, Through the night, Bleary eyed, In the light
Anguished heart, Yearning soul, No hindsight

Longing for peace, Craving a smile, Needing release, Wanting exile

Exile as I’m in my cocoon, feeling wounds, thoughts are strewn, feeling doom
Sitting in my room as each day resumes, no immune, hearing gloom, in my tomb
I’m lonely all day, I see my palette of gray
Alone in the day, nervous dismay, needing just to get away
Dreaming by day, sleepless dismay, little to say, no getaway gray
Palette of gray, lonely dismay, melancholy dreaming by day

Nothing seems right, because my chest is feeling tight
And that feeling means it’s fight or flight
Craving new sight, new verse to write, my homesick flight, my heartsick plight flight
Nothing looks right from my line of sight, homesick flight plight

I toss and turn through the night
I’m bleary eyed in the light
Anguished heart, yearning soul, ready for flight
Fight or flight, chest feeling tight, nothing sounds right, my homesick plight

Skies without blues , Craving some new , A brand-new view, And words are few
Days without grind, No longer blind, Gone are the binds, No one unkind

Nights that are cool, No more the fool, No mental duels, Time to refuel
Me unconfined, Me unresigned, Life unrefined, One of a kind

Streets filled with life, Hope in the breeze, No words of strife, Feeling at ease
Thirsting for space, Hungry for home, Now in my place, Home of my own

Copyright ©2023 by Joe Sandoval