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Frau Schwalbe gieb mir Kunde! Wo mag mein Liebster sein? -- Er liegt im Thurm gefangen Bei Ottern und bei Schlangen Und leidet grosse Pein. Wie mag ich zu ihm kommen? Frau Schwalbe, gieb Bescheid! -- Du kannst nicht zu ihm wandern, Es trennen Eins vom Andern Drei Wasser, wild und breit. Drei wilde, breite Wasser, Die brechen mir nicht den Muth. Einen Engel wird Gott mir senden, Der trägt mich auf den Händen Wohl über die wilde Fluth. Lass alles Hoffen fahren! Der Weg ist lang und weit, Ein Jahr und sieben Wochen. Dann ist sein Herz gebrochen Vor übergrossem Leid. Und ist mein Schatz gestorben, So find' ich doch sein Grab. Dort will ich beten und singen; Das Herz wird mir zerspringen, Weil ich so lieb ihn hab'.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Der Pathe des Todes, Leipzig: Verlag von A.G. Liebeskind, 1893, pages 100-101
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), no title, appears in Der Pathe des Todes: Dichtung [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 M. J. Kremer , "Frau Schwalbe" [ voice and piano ], from Ausgewählte Lieder, no. 1, self-published, no date ; note: each song has a title page showing "M. J. Kremer" as the composer, but at the top of each song, it says "J. N. Kremer" [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Madame Swallow", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2015-07-28
Line count: 25
Word count: 129
Madame Swallow, give me tidings! Where might my beloved be? -- He is lying imprisoned in a tower With vipers and with snakes And is suffering great agony. How might I get to him? Madame Swallow, tell me! -- You cannot wander to where he is, One from the other is separated By three waters, wild and wide. Three wild, wide waters, They do not break my courage. God shall send me an angel To carry me across in his hands Safely over the wild floodwaters. Let go of all hope! The way is long and far, [A journey of] a year and seven weeks. By then his heart shall be broken From immeasurable sorrow. And should my darling be dead, I could still find his grave. There I shall pray and sing; My heart shall burst asunder, Because I love him so much.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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 Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), no title, appears in Der Pathe des Todes: Dichtung
This text was added to the website: 2015-07-28
Line count: 25
Word count: 143