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Es flog ein munteres Vögelein Im Sonnenschein, Und sang, daß Alles wiederhallt: "Der Wald, der Wald, Der ganze Wald ist mein!" Da kam ein Vogelsteller fein, Und fing es ein, Und trug es mit sich stumm und kalt, Fort aus dem Wald, Als wär' es rechtlich sein. Nahm eine Schöne zart und rein Das Vögelein, Und vor der lieblichen Gestalt Vergaß es Wald Und Luft und Sonnenschein. Ein seid'ner Faden stark und fein Hielt ihm das Bein. Und sucht es Freyheit auch und Wald, Der zög' es bald Zum Fenster doch herein.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gedichte von Fridr. Baron de la Motte-Fouqué, Neueste Auflage, Wien: Bey B. Ph. Bauer, 1816, pages 67-68
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Lied" [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 Daniel Friedrich Rudolph Kuhlau (1786 - 1832), "Es flog ein muntres Vögelein", op. 106 no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , 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: 2015-12-13
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
A jaunty little bird was flying In the sunshine, And sang so that it echoed from all sides: "The forest, the forest, The whole forest is mine!" Along came a skillful bird-catcher And caught it, And carried it off, mute and cold, Out of the forest, As if it were his by rights. A beautiful woman, delicate and pure, Took the little bird, And seeing her beautiful image It forgot the forest And breeze and sunshine. A silken thread, strong and true, Was attached to its leg. And even should the bird seek freedom and forest, [The thread] would soon pull it Back in through the window.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translated titles:"Lied" = "Song"
"Es flog ein munteres Vögelein" = "A jaunty little bird was flying"
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 Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouqué (1777 - 1843), "Lied"
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-13
Line count: 20
Word count: 107