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Ein Mägdlein hatt' ein Röslein roth Vor seinem Fenster stehn; Das Mägdlein und das Röslein war Gar wonnig anzusehn. Und jeden Morgen sorgsam bracht's Dem Röslein frischen Trunk, Und freute sich herzinniglich An seinem Duft und Prunk. Und einmal ward das Mägdlein roth Schier wie sein Röslein gar: Den möcht' ich wohl zu meinem Schatz, Wie ist sein Aug so klar! Seitdem läuft's zu dem Fenster hin Des Tags wie manches Mal! Dem Röslein reicht's zu trinken dar Noch spät im Mondenstrahl! Und bald das Mägdlein wurde Braut, Ein Knösplein brechen geht: Das Röslein -- war ertrunken gar, Sein Duft und Glanz verweht.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 369.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das ertrunkene Röslein", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 392 [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 Wilhelm jun. Bethge (1841 - 1880) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Siebert , "Das ertrunkene Röslein", op. 47 no. 3, published 1884 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig: Lichtenberger's Musikhandlung [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The drowned rose", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-06-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 102
A maiden had a little red rose Standing in front of her window; The maiden and the little rose Were delightful to look at. And every morning she carefully Brought the little rose fresh water, And took a heartfelt delight In its scent and splendour. And once the maiden blushed red, Quite [as red] as her little rose: I would like to have him as my beloved, How his eyes are so clear! Since then she runs to the window Many a time during the day! She gives the little rose [water] to drink Quite late by the light of the moon! And soon the maiden was a bride, She goes to break off a little rosebud: The little rose -- was utterly drowned, Its scent and radiance gone.
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), "Das ertrunkene Röslein", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 392
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-13
Line count: 20
Word count: 128