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Der Mai bricht in den Wald herein,
Er soll uns hoch willkommen sein.
Die Röslein erwachen im grünen Wald --
Wie war der Winter lang und kalt!
Der Mai flicht bunten blühenden Kranz,
Die Knaben führen die Mädchen zum Tanz[,]
Tandaradei!
Fahr in den Mai!
Bald blühn im Hag die Rosen.
Die Maiensonne träufelt Gold,
Jung Heinrich ist der Kathrin hold.
Die dünkt an Ehren sich so reich,
Als hätt' sie Sitz im Himmelreich.
Wer hat sie so nachdenklich gemacht?
Wer pflanzte ihr Maien vors Fenster bei Nacht?
Tandaradei!
Fahr in den Mai!
Bald blühn im Hag die Rosen.
Zur Linde zieht der frohe Reihn,
Die schöne Kathrin geht allein.
Jung Heinrich rückt verlegen nah:
"Schön Kathrin! War heut schon einmal da!"
Von Aug zu Auge Blitze sprühn,
Und drunter rote Röslein blühn.
Tandaradei!
Fahr in den Mai!
So blühn im Hag die Rosen.
O Mädel, wo kam dein Hochmut hin?
Schlich dir ein andres in den Sinn?
Noch nie hat Kathrin so gern getanzt!
"Du Böser! hast du mir die Maien gepflanzt?"
Blaublümle steckt sie ihm ans Herz,
Und als er scheidet, fühlt sie Schmerz.
Tandaradei!
Fahr in den Mai!
Ach, blüht und duftet, ihr Rosen!
Der Frühling den Winter überwand,
Ein jedes Herz seine Wonne fand.
O eisiger Stolz, wie mußt du weichen,
Wenn warme Lieb' dich thut erreichen!
Jung Heinrich jauchzt und küßt Kathrin,
Und die lacht selig vor sich hin.
Tandaradei!
Fahr in den Mai!
Süß duften im Hag die Rosen.
A footnote (to the subtitle) at the end of the published poem explains the content of this poem: In der dem ersten Maientag voraufgehenden Walpurgisnacht werden im Elsaß die Glocken geläutet, wodurch "der Winter vom Frühling geschieden" wird, und die jungen Burschen pflanzen ihrer Geliebten einen Maienbaum vors Fenster. Am Morgen ziehen Mädchen von Haus zu Haus mein einem Maienbaum, sammeln Gaben und singen alte Lieder, deren eines den Anlaß zur vorliegenden Dichtung gegeben hat. Siehe "Jahrbuch des Vogesenklubs in Straßburg 1887".
Confirmed with Vom Fels zum Meer: Spemann's illustrirte Zeitung für das deutsche Haus, Zweiter Band (April bis September 1888), page 921.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Karl Claudius (1757 - 1815), "Maienfahrt", subtitle: "(Elsässische Volksweise)" [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 Theodor Salzmann (1854 - 1928), "Maienfahrt", op. 3 (Zwei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1892 [ medium voice and piano ], Nürnberg, Soldan [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Going forth into May", subtitle: "(Alsatian folksong)", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-04-29
Line count: 45
Word count: 244
May bursts into the forest,
It is highly welcome to us.
The little roses waken in the green forest --
How long and cold winter was!
May twines a colourful blossoming wreath,
The lads lead the maidens to the dance[,]
Tandaradei!
Go forth into May!
Soon the roses shall be blooming in the grove.
The May sun trickles gold,
Young Henry is fond of Kathryn.
She feels so richly honoured,
As if she had a seat in the realm of heaven.
What has made her so pensive?
Who planted the May-tree in front of her window?
Tandaradei!
Go forth into May!
Soon the roses shall be blooming in the grove.
The happy throng heads for the linden tree,
Lovely Kathryn walks alone.
Young Henry bashfully draws near:
"Lovely Kathryn! I visited you once already today!"
Lightning flashes from eye to eye
And below, little red roses bloom.
Tandaradei!
Go forth into May!
Thus the roses are blooming in the grove.
Oh maiden, what happened to your haughtiness?
Did something else creep into your mind?
Never yet has Kathryn danced so gladly!
"You bad fellow! did you plant the May-tree for me?"
She pins blue flowers over his heart,
And as he departs, she feels pain.
Tandaradei!
Go forth into May!
Ah, bloom and fill the air with scent, ye roses!
Spring has conquered winter,
Every heart has found its bliss.
Oh, icy pride, how you must give way
When fervent love reaches you!
Young Henry rejoices and kisses Kathryn,
And she smiles joyfully to herself.
Tandaradei!
Go forth into May!
Sweetly the roses scent the air of the grove.
Subtitle: "(Alsatian folksong)"
A footnote (to the subtitle) at the end of the published poem explains the content of this poem: In the night before the first of May (Walpurgis Night), the bells are rung in Alsace, through which "winter is separated from spring" and the young lads plant a May-tree before the window of their beloved. In the morning, the maidens go from house to house carrying a May-tree, collect money, and sing old songs; one of them was the inspiration for the above poem. See "Jahrbuch des Vogesenklubs in Straßburg 1887".
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Georg Karl Claudius (1757 - 1815), "Maienfahrt", subtitle: "(Elsässische Volksweise)"
This text was added to the website: 2024-05-21
Line count: 45
Word count: 268