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Sieh, wie sich die Vögel schwenken Lustig in den Lüften dort, Heimwärts ihren Zug sie lenken, Lebe wohl, ich muß nun fort. Siehst mich scheiden ohne Zähren, Ach, der Sommer ist vorbei; Liebe kann nicht ewig währen, Und noch kürzer währt die Treu. Kehre ich nach Jahren wieder, Wenn vergeßner Sang erklingt, So ist's eines meiner Lieder, Das empor zu Dir sich schwingt. Leise pocht's an Deine Thüre, Mahnt Dich nicht an alte Zeit, Nicht an längst verwehte Schwüre, Grüßt Dich nur voll Zärtlichkeit. Blicke freundlich dann hernieder So wie ehmals vom Balkon, Wenig fordert, der vorüber Zieht, für seinen Sang als Lohn. Ob des Herbstes Sturmwind tose, Oder Lenzhauch küßt die Flur: Eine halberblühte Rose, Und ein flüchtig Lächeln nur.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Günther Walling (Carl Ulrici), Von Lenz zu Herbst. Dichtungen, Zweite vielfach veränderte Auflage, Leipzig und Berlin: Verlag von Wilhelm Friedrich, 1887, pages 24-25.
Text Authorship:
- by Günther Walling (1839 - 1896), no title, appears in Von Lenz zu Herbst: Dichtungen, in 1. Lieder, in Lieder aus Sevilla, no. 14 [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 Maximilian Heidrich (1864 - 1909), "Sieh, wie sich die Vögel schwenken", op. 8 no. 5, published 1890 [ satb quartet and piano duet ], from Fünf Lieder aus Sevilla, no. 5, Leipzig: Dörffel [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "See how the birds dart about", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2020-06-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 121
See how the birds dart about Merrily in the breezes there, They turn their flight homewards, Farewell, I must now be off. You see me departing without tears, Ah, summer is past; Love cannot last forever, And faithfulness lasts even less long. When I return after a span of years, When forgotten singing sounds [once more], Then it shall be one of my songs That rises up to you. Quietly [the song] shall knock upon your door, It shall not remind you of olden times, Not of long-gone vows; It shall only greet you full of tenderness. Gaze down amicably then As you once did from the balcony; He who travels pasts, asks for Little in recompense for his singing. Whether the storm-wind of autumn rages, Or a springtime breeze kisses the meadow: [Reward me with] only a half-open rose And a fleeting smile.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Günther Walling (1839 - 1896), no title, appears in Von Lenz zu Herbst: Dichtungen, in 1. Lieder, in Lieder aus Sevilla, no. 14
This text was added to the website: 2020-06-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 144