by Ernst Stauß
Translation Singable translation by J. A. Homan

Maientag
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie war er schön der Maientag, 
da wir zu Zweien schritten
durch Enzian und Haidekraut, 
durch Flur und Waldesmitten;
der Morgensonne junger Glanz
lag über Tal und Höhn.
Wie war er schön der Maientag,
wie war er wunderschön.

Wie war er süss der erste Kuss,
der uns in Lieb' vereinte,
wie glänzte hell dein braunes Aug'
das Freudentränen weinte,
die Lerche sang im Ätherblau,
mein war das Paradies.
Wie war er süss der erste Kuss,
wie war er wundersüss.

Wie war er kurz der Liebestraum,
wie kurz der Maientag;
nun braust der Herbst durch das Land,
es schweigt der Lerche Schlag,
es zittert leis' durch Flur und Feld
ein sterbendes Vergeh'n.
Wie war er schön der Maientag,
wie war er wundeschön.

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Researcher for this page: Hanne-Joost Peeters

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 121

A day of May
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
How bright it was, that day of May, 
When we together wandered
Through gentian and heathers way,
Through field and forest sauntered!
The morningsun's impassioned glow
Spread over vale and height
How bright is was, that day of May,
How wondrous fair and bright!

How sweet it was the virgin kiss
That sealed our love for ever,
How tender were thine eyes in bliss
That shed but tears of pleasure!
The lark was singing in the sky,
Earth was our Paradise,
How sweet it was thy virgin kiss,
How wondrous fair thine eyes!

How fleeting was this dream of love,
How brief this day of May,
The autumn's storm sweeps from above
And stays the skylark's lay
There trembles soft through field and bay
A dying voice in flight.
How bright it was that day of May,
How wondrous fair and bright.

From the Van der Stucken score.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Hanne-Joost Peeters

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 142