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Es ging ein Maidlein zarte Früh in der Morgenstund In einen Blumengarten, Frisch, fröhlich und gesund; Der Blümlein es viel brechen wollt, Daraus ein'n Kranz zu machen Von Silber und von Gold. Da kam herzugeschlichen Ein gar erschrecklich Mann, Die Farb war ihm verblichen, Kein Kleider hatt er an. Er hat kein Fleisch, kein Blut, kein Haar, Es war an ihm verdorret, Sein Fleisch und Flechsen gar. O Tod, laß mich beim Leben, Nimm all mein Hausgesind! Mein Vater wird dirs geben, Wenn er mich lebend findt; Ich bin sein einzig Töchterlein, Er würde mich nicht geben Um tausend Gulden fein. Er nahm sie in der Mitten, Da sie am schwächsten war, Es half an ihm kein Bitten, Er warf sie in das Gras, Und rührte an ihr junges Herz, Da liegt das Maidlein zarte Voll bittrer Angst und Schmerz.
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Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Das Mädchen und der Tod", WoO. 32 no. 23 (1858), published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 23, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es ging ein Maidlein zarte", WoO. 33 no. 21, published [1894], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 21, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "Early one morning", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , no title, copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Andò una delicata fanciulla", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 140
Early one morning A tender maiden went out To walk in the flowery garden, A cheerful healthy maiden; She went to pluck some flowers, To wind a garland Of silver and gold. Up crept to her A seedy frightful man, As sallow as could be, No rags to cover him. He had no flesh, nor blood, nor hair, That hadn't withered away, Even sinew and gristle had gone. Oh death, let me be, Take any of the servants! It won't be to your disadvantage. If my father finds me alive and well; I'm his only daughter, He wouldn't give me away Even be it for a fortune. He took her by the waist As tender as she was, being deaf to any of her pleas, And threw her into the grass, And when he touched her heart, The tender maiden lay there In biting fear and pain.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Linda Godry, (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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website: 2008-02-09
Line count: 28
Word count: 147