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Nachtigall, sag, was für Grüß', Was ist dein Gesang so süß? So schaurig, so schaurig! Bald thut wohl mir dein Gesang, Und wird's mir im Herzen bang! So schaurig, so schaurig! Wie es tönet durch den Wald, Fließt die Thräne von der Wang'. So schaurig, so schaurig! In dem Herzen ringt die Noth So als wär' es gar der Tod! So schaurig, so schaurig! Nachtigall, so wundersam, Sprich in Jesu Christi Nam': So schaurig, so schaurig! Wie solch Singen möglich ist? Und verkünde, wer du bist! So schaurig, so schaurig! Der du bist, das war ich einst, Meine Sünd' ist nicht die kleinst', So schaurig, so schaurig! Wart bis auf den jüngsten Tag Auf mein Urtheil mit der Klag'. So schaurig, so schaurig! Rauschend fliegt der Vogel fort, Warnt bald hier und warnt bald dort; So schaurig, so schaurig! Wer vernommen den Gesang, Der wird nicht mehr leben lang'. So schaurig, so schaurig!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Deutsche Volkslieder mit ihren Original-Weisen, ed. A. Wilh. v. Zuccalmaglio, Zweiter Theil, Berlin: Vereins-Buchhandlung, 1840, pages 140-141.
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Die verzauberte Nachtigall" [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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Nachtigall, sag", WoO. 33 no. 48, published [1894] [ voice, chorus (Vorsängener Chor), and piano ], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 48, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nachtegaal, wat 's dat voor groet?", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Nightingale, tell", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dis, rossignol pourquoi pour un salut", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 153
Nightingale, tell, what sort of greetings, How is your singing so sweet? So eerie, so eerie! Now your song does me good And I become anxious in my heart! So eerie, so eerie! As it rings out through the forest, The tears flow down my cheeks. So eerily, so eerily! And within my heart distress struggles As if it were death! So eerie, so eerie! Nightingale, so wondrous, Speak in the name of Jesus Christ: So eerie, so eerie! How is such singing possible? And tell who you are! So eerie, so eerie! Who you are, I once was, My sin is not the smallest, So eerie, so eerie! With lamentation I wait Until day of the last judgement for my sentence. So eerie, so eerie! With a rustle of its wings the bird flies off, Warns now here and warns now there; So eerily, so eerily! He who has heard the singing Shall not live much longer. So eerie, so eerie!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Die verzauberte Nachtigall"
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-23
Line count: 30
Word count: 162