We did not exchange rings

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.

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wir haben nicht Ringe gewechselt

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Wir haben nicht Ringe gewechselt,
Das Herz zu legen in Banden;
Wir haben nicht Phrasen gedrechselt,
Und haben uns doch verstanden.

Wir haben nicht Eltern, noch Sippen
Dabei zu Rath gezogen --
Es haben Herzen und Lippen
Alleine Rath gepflogen.

Ein Blick herüber, hinüber,
Ein Kuß -- ich hielt Dich umwunden --
Die Herzen flossen uns über,
Wir waren auf ewig verbunden.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• H. Marschner

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Ausgewählte Dichtungen von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Zweite Auflage, Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei (R.v. Decker), 1864, page 263.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Verständigung", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 9. Aus dem Buche Edlitam (1847-1851) [author's text checked 2 times 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 Heinrich August Marschner (1795 - 1861), "Wir haben nicht Ringe", op. 163 (Friedrich Bodenstedts Lieder für eine Sopran oder Tenorstimme am Piano zu singen), Heft 2 no. 9, published 1853 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Berlin, Bote und Bock [sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2021-08-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

We did not exchange rings

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Add this translation to the Basket

We did not exchange rings
In order to bind our hearts;
We did not turn phrases,
And nevertheless understood one another.

We did not ask for the advice
Of parents or relations --
Our hearts and lips
Took counsel all by themselves.

A glance hither and back,
A kiss -- I held you embraced --
Our hearts overflowed,
We were eternally joined together.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Verständigung" = "An understanding"
"Wir haben nicht Ringe" = "We did not [exchange] rings"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Verständigung", appears in Alte und neue Gedichte, in 9. Aus dem Buche Edlitam (1847-1851)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2022-04-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 60