How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon.
Ophelia-Lieder
Song Cycle by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
Translated to:
English — Songs of Ophelia
1. How should I your true love know [sung text checked 1 time]
Note: this is a multi-text setting
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]
1. Wie erkenn' ich dein Treulieb [sung text checked 1 time]
Note: this 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]2. White his shroud as the mountain snow  [sung text checked 1 time]
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]
2. Sein Leichenhemd weiß wie Schnee zu sehn  [sung text checked 1 time]
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
3. To‑morrow is Saint Valentine's day  [sung text checked 1 time]
[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]
3. Auf morgen ist Sankt Valentins Tag  [sung text checked 1 time]
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
4. Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloß  [sung text checked 1 time]
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
5. Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?  [sung text checked 1 time]
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