by Carl Bohm (1844 - 1920)
Translation Singable translation by Nathan Haskell Dole (1852 - 1935)

Was mir als Kind die Mutter sang
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O sing noch einmal mir die Weise,
die mir als Kind die Mutter sang,
die mir so süß, so mild und leise
bis in die tiefste Seele drang.
In böser Zeit, in bangen Stunden
war sie mein bester Freund;
wenn in der Brust das Lied erklang,
war mir's, als wenn die Mutter sang

Vom Vaterhaus an ferne Strande
trieb mich das bitterböse Muss,
doch klang mir aus dem Heimatlande
oft wieder jenes Liedes Gruß.
Und kränkte mich der Menschen Tücke,
mir raubt' sie nicht mein Glück;
wenn in der Brust das Lied erklang,
war mir's, als wenn die Mutter sang

Und will in meiner letzten Stunde
erlöschen meines Lebens Stern,
dann hört' ich wohl aus deinem Munde,
o Mutter, jene Weise gern.
Dort oben in dem Sternenlande,
wo ewig Friede lacht,
da hör' ich jenes Liedes Klang,
das mir als Kind die Mutter sang.

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English [singable] (Nathan Haskell Dole) , "The Song My Mother Sang"


Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2021-05-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 144

The Song My Mother Sang
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
O sing once more that simple ditty
My mother sang when I was young,
so full of tender love and pity,
that oft my very soul was wrung.
In irksome days, in mournful moments
she was my truest friend;
when thro' my heart that ditty rang,
it seem'd as tho' my mother sang!

Once cruel fortune bade me sever
from childhood's home to wander long,
and then I heard behind me ever
the loving accents of that song.
If selfish men e'er turned against me,
yet could I be serene,
when thro' my heart that ditty rang,
for then it seem'd my mother sang!

And when my star of life is nearing
the moment of its last eclipse,
what sweeter song could I be hearing,
o mother, from thy loving lips?
There high above in starry spaces,
where peace forever dwells,
entranced upon the notes I hang,
which mother in my childhood sang!

From the Carl Bohm score.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2021-05-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 153