Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Songs of Ophelia
Song Cycle by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
View original-language texts alone: Ophelia-Lieder
(The following is a multi-text setting.)
How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet [an adaptation]
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo) , no title
- GER German (Deutsch) (Friedrich Ludwig Schröder) , no title, appears in Dramatische Werke, in Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark. Ein Trauerspiel in sechs Aufzügen. Nach Shakesspear [sic]
- GER German (Deutsch) (Karl Joseph Simrock) (Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich Seeger) , no title, appears in Shakespeare in deutscher Übersetzung, in 6. Hamlet, first published 1868
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich Seeger) , no title, appears in Shakespeare in deutscher Übersetzung, in 6. Hamlet [an adaptation]
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , no title, copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Krystyn Ostrowski) , no title
Note: this is often referred to as the Walsingham Ballad, and is quoted in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5. Ophelia is singing.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's poem An old song ended refers to this song.
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone; At his head a grass green turf, At his heels a stone.1
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo)
- GER German (Deutsch) (Karl Joseph Simrock) (Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich Seeger) , no title, appears in Shakespeare in deutscher Übersetzung, in 6. Hamlet
- GER German (Deutsch) (August Wilhelm Schlegel)
- GER German (Deutsch) (Friedrich Ludwig Schröder) , no title, appears in Dramatische Werke, in Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark. Ein Trauerspiel in sechs Aufzügen. Nach Shakesspear [sic]
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , no title, copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POL Polish (Polski) (Krystyn Ostrowski) , no title
These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
1 Rihm adds (using some words that are spoken in the Hamlet play): "Oho! Oho! Nay, but ... mark"Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
(The following is a multi-text setting.)
Wie erkenn' ich dein Treulieb Vor den andern nun? An den Muschelhut und Stab. Und den Sandalschuh'n.
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet [an adaptation] and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "How will I know your true love", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Er ist lange tot und hin, Tot und hin, Fräulein! Ihm zu Häupten ein Rasen grün, Ihm zu Fuß ein Stein.
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845)
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]How will I know your true love From others now? By the mussel-hat and staff. And the sandal shoes. He is long dead and gone, Dead and gone, Miss! At his head green grass, At his feet a stone.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet [an adaptation] and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
Go to the single-text view
White his shroud as the mountain snow, [Larded]1 with sweet [flowers]2; Which bewept to the [grave did go]3 With true-love [showers]4.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo) , no title
- GER German (Deutsch) (Karl Joseph Simrock) (Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich Seeger)
- POL Polish (Polski) (Krystyn Ostrowski)
These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
1 Castelnuovo-Tedesco: "Larded all"2 White: "flow'rs"
3 Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Grill: "ground did not go"
4 White: "show'rs"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
Sein Leichenhemd weiß wie Schnee zu sehn, Geziert mit Blumensegen, Das still betränt zum Grab mußt gehn Von Liebesregen.
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845)
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Son linceul que l'on voit blanc comme la neige", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
[To-morrow is]1 Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning [betime]2,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (François-Victor Hugo)
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ludwig Wilhelm Friedrich Seeger) , no title, appears in Shakespeare in deutscher Übersetzung, in 6. Hamlet
These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
1 Quilter: "Good morrow, 'tis "2 Quilter: "time"
3 omitted by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Grill
4 Castelnuovo-Tedesco: "He answers,/ So"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
Auf morgen ist Sankt Valentins Tag, Wohl an der Zeit noch früh, Und ich 'ne Maid am Fensterschlag Will sein eur Valentin. Er war bereit, tät an sein Kleid, Tät auf die Kammertür, Ließ ein die Maid, die als 'ne Maid Ging nimmermehr herfür.
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day, All in the early morning time, And I, a maid at the window Will be your Valentine. He was ready, put on his clothes, Opened up the chamber door, Let in the maid, who as a maid Nevermore departed.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-02-09
Line count: 8
Word count: 44
Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloß,
[He non nonni, nonni, he nonni!]1
Und manche Trän' fiel in Grabes Schoß --
[Fahr wohl, meine Taube!]2
Ihr müßt singen: «'Nunter, [hinunter!]2
Und ruft ihr ihn 'nunter.»
[O wie das Rad dazu klingt!
Es ist der falsche Verwalter,
Der seines Herrn Tochter stahl.]2
Denn traut lieb Fränzel ist all meine Lust.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , no title, appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Brahms: "Leider, ach leider!"
2 omitted by Brahms.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?
Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?
Er ist Tot, o weh!
In dein Todesbett geh,
Er kommt ja nimmer zurück.
[ ... ]
Sein Bart war so weiß wie Schnee,
Sein Haupt dem Flachse gleich:
Er ist hin, er ist hin,
Und kein Leid bringt Gewinn:
Gott helf' ihm ins Himmelreich!
Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , no title, appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Brahms: "Leider, ach leider!"
2 omitted by Brahms.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani