I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing, Gaily in the sunny beam; [Tho']1 to the wild birds singing, By a falling crystal stream. [Staight]2 the sky grew black and daring, While through the woods the whirlwinds rave, The trees with aged arms were warring, Across the swelling drumlie wave. Such was my life's deceitful morning, Such the pleasures I enjoy'd; But long ere noon loud tempest storming, All my flow'ry bliss destroy'd. [Tho']3 fickle fortune has deceiv'd me, [She promised]4 fair, and perform'd but ill, Of many a joy and hope bereav'd me, I bear a heart shall support me still.
Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, page 448.
Glossary
Drumlie = muddy
2 Beethoven : "At once"
3 Beethoven : "Though"
4 Beethoven : "Promised"
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing", WoO. 153 (20 Irische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 5, G. 224 no. 5, published 1814/6 [ vocal duet with piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Joseph Haydn, Humphrey Procter-Gregg.
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Albert Hermann Dietrich.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Já snil, že mezi květinami"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je rêvais que j'étais allongé là où les fleurs sortaient", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Mir träumt' ich lag wo die Blumen springen"
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
Mir träumt', ich lag, wo die Blumen springen Lustig in dem Sonnestrahl; Ich hörte wilder Vöglein Singen Am kristallnen Wasserfall. Da plötzlich wird der Himmel düster, Hohl durch den Wald schnaubt Sturmeswut, Mit greisem Arm kämpft Ulm' und Rüster Quer über wild erregter Flut. So trügend war mein Lebensmorgen, So die Lust, die mich erfreut, Bis lang vor Mittag Sturm und sorgen All mein blumig Glück zerstreut, Hat Schicksal treulos auch gelogen, Mir süß verheißen, kalt versagt, Mich Lust und Hoffnung gleich betrogen, Schlägt doch mein Herz noch unverzagt.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Mir träumt' ich lag wo die Blumen springen" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 89