Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Bald fällt von diesen Zweigen Das letzte Laub herab. Die Büsch' und Wälder schweigen, Die Welt ist wie ein Grab. Wo sind sie denn geblieben? Ach! sie sangen einst so schön -- Der Reif hat sie vertrieben Weg über Thal und Höhn. Und bange wird's und bänger Und öd' in Feld und Hag; Die Nächte werden länger Und kürzer wird der Tag. Die Vögel sind verschwunden, Suchen Frühling anderswo; Nur wo sie den gefunden, Da sind sie wieder froh. Und wenn von diesen Zweigen Das letzte Laub nun fällt, Wenn Büsch' und Wälder schweigen, Als trauerte die Welt -- Dein Frühling kann nicht schwinden, Immer gleich bleibt dein Geschick, Du kannst den Frühling finden Noch jeden Augenblick.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gesammelte Werke von Hoffmann von Fallersleber, Herausgegeben von Dr. Heinrich Gerstenberg, Zweiter Band, Lyrische Gedichte, Kinderleben, Die vier Jahreszeiten, Berlin: F. Fontane, 1891, page 109.
Text Authorship:
- by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Herbstlied", written 1836, appears in Kinderlieder [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), "Im Herbste", op. 31 (Für Schule und Haus. Acht zweistimmige Lieder für Sopran und Alt mit Pianoforte), Heft 1 no. 3, published 1878 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Leipzig & Zürich: Gebrüder Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 115
Soon the last leaves shall fall From these branches, Bushes and forests fall silent, The world is like a grave. Wherever have they gone? Ah! they once sang so beautifully -- The hoarfrost has driven them away Over valley and heights. And it grows ever more frightening And desolate in field and grove; The nights are becoming longer And the days shorter. The birds have disappeared, [They are] looking for spring elsewhere; Only where they have found it, There they are happy once more. And when the last leaves now fall From these branches, When bushes and forests fall silent, As if the world were in mourning -- Your springtime cannot vanish, Your fate remains ever the same, You can still find spring At every moment.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Herbstlied" = "Autumn song"
"Im Herbste" = "In autumn"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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) by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Herbstlied", written 1836, appears in Kinderlieder
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 124