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Die Lerche singt, der Kuckuck schreit, Krieg führt die ganze Welt, Es fängt nun an ein großer Streit In Wald und Wies' und Feld. Die Blumen streiten heftiglich, Wer wohl die schönste sei; Und nur die Rose denkt für sich: Das ist mir einerlei. Und auch die Vöglein streiten sich Um ihren Sang und Schall. "Was aber soll das kümmern mich?" So sagt die Nachtigall. Da mischet sich der Frühling drein: "Was," spricht er, "soll der Krieg? Der Nachtigall und Ros' allein Gebührt der Preis und Sieg." So laßt uns wie die Rose sein Und wie die Nachtigall! Bescheidne Herzen schön und rein, Die siegen überall.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with the anthology Aus deutschen Lesebüchern: Dichtungen in Poesie und Prosa : erläutert für Schule und Haus, Erster Band, Vierte Auflage, Gera und Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Theodor Hofmann, 1897, page 321.
Text Authorship:
- by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Bescheidenheit siegt" [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 Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Bescheidenheit siegt", published 1899 [ sa chorus and piano ], from Für Schule und Haus. Mädchenlieder. Zweite Folge., no. 8, Leipzig: Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Friedrich August Hering (1819 - 1889), "Frühling", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2024-08-19
Line count: 20
Word count: 106
The lark sings, the cuckoo calls, The whole world is waging war, A great battle now begins In forest and meadow and field. The flowers quarrel vigorously About which might be the most beautiful; And only the rose thinks to itself: It is all the same to me. And also the birds quarrel among themselves About their singing and resounding. "But what should that concern me?" Thus says the nightingale. Thereupon spring intervenes, Saying: "What is the point of this battle? Praise and victory are due To the nightingale and rose alone." So let us be like the rose And like the nightingale! Humble hearts, lovely and pure, They are victorious everywhere.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesTranslations of titles:
"Bescheidenheit siegt" = "Humility is victorious"
"Frühling" = "Springtime"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Bescheidenheit siegt"
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This text was added to the website: 2026-10-18
Line count: 20
Word count: 114