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Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein, Fliegt gern das andre nach Und will nicht minder glücklich sein Und baut sich Dach und Fach. Horch, wie es singt im grünen Wald Von seinem Liebesglück, Wie aus dem Busch die Antwort schallt So hell und frisch zurück! Verschlossen aber in der Brust Hält's wohl den schönsten Klang, Wie fänd' es auch für all' die Lust Den Ton sein Leben lang? Doch mag sich Liebe ja verstehn Auf halbem Wege schon, Fürwahr, und sich in's Herz wohl sehn Auch ohne Klang und Ton. Und ei! wie gar so bald schon fliegt Manch Vöglein aus dem Strauch, Eh kaum sich auf den Zweigen wiegt Der erste Frühlingshauch. Jung Freien! schmettert's ungescheut Und trägt den Halm zum Nest; Jung Freien hat noch nie gereut Und ist das Allerbest'!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 160-161.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 181 [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 Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein", op. 61 (Acht Lieder für gemischten Chor), Heft 1 no. 3, published 1873 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig: C. F. W. Siegel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Friedrich) Oskar Wermann (1840 - 1906), "Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein", op. 48 (Acht Duette für zwei Singstimmen mit Pianoforte), Heft 2 no. 6, published 1889 [ vocal duet with piano ], Leipzig: Kahnt Nachfolger [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "When a birdlet flies out of the nest", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2021-08-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 134
When a birdlet flies out of the nest, The other one likes to fly after it And does not want to be any less happy And builds itself a roof and shelter. Hark, how it sings in the green woods Of its happiness of loving, How from out of the bush the answer Sounds in return so brightly and briskly! But locked up in its breast It surely holds the loveliest sound For in its whole life, how could it Find the sound for all the bliss? But to be sure, love may Understand love halfway already, Truly, and may well gaze into the heart Even without sound and tone. And ah! how so quickly already Many a birdlet flies out of the bush, Before the first breath of spring Has even wafted about the branches. To marry young! it belts out fearlessly And carries the straws to build a nest; No one has ever regretted marrying young And it is the best of all!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Oser (1820 - 1891), "Fliegt aus dem Nest ein Vögelein", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 181
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 166