Ah, ye forests, dark forests

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by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ach, ihr Wälder, dunkle Wälder

Language: German (Deutsch) after the Slovak (Slovenčina)

Our translations: ENG

Ach, ihr Wälder, dunkle Wälder, 
  Miletiner Wälder! 
Warum grünt ihr, wie im Sommer, 
  Lustig fort im Winter? 
Gerne wollt' ich ja nicht weinen, 
  Nicht mein Herz betrüben;
Aber sagt ihr guten Leute,
  Wer mich Arme tröstet?
Ach, wo ist mein lieber Vater? 
  Längst im Grabe liegt er! 
Wo ist meine gute Mutter? 
  Gras wächst ihr zu Häupten.
Bruder hab' ich nicht, noch Schwester,
  Fort ist mein Herzliebster!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• R. Franz • R. Franz

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Confirmed with Friedrich Bodenstedt, Alte und neue Gedichte, Erster Band, Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei (R.v. Decker), 1867, page 144.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Böhmisches Lied", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 6. Volksweisen als Intermezzo, no. 9 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]

Based on:

a text in Slovak (Slovenčina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
- Go to the text page.

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2020-08-07
Line count: 14
Word count: 68

Ah, ye forests, dark forests

NOTE: the footnotes have been removed from this text; return to general view

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Ah, ye forests, dark forests,
  Miletian forests!
Why do you merrily continue to be green
  In winter as you are in summer?
Gladly would I not weep,
  Not sadden my heart;
But, good people, tell me
  Who shall comfort me, the poor wretch?
Ah, where is my dear father?
  He has long been resting in his grave!
Where is my good mother?
  Grass is growing at her head.
I have neither brother nor sister,
  The beloved of my heart is gone!

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Translations of title(s):
"Böhmisches Lied" = "Bohemian song"
"Die Verlassene" = "The forsaken one"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Böhmisches Lied", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 6. Volksweisen als Intermezzo, no. 9
- Go to the text page.

Based on:

a text in Slovak (Slovenčina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general view

This text was added to the website: 2020-08-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 83