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Nun weiß ich, was soll es bedeuten, Das Lied von der Loreley: Das Märchen aus alten Zeiten -- Uns wurde es wieder neu! Die deutscheste Jungfrau sitzet Auf hohem, felsigen Stein, Ihr leuchtender Harnisch blitzet, -- So hielt sie die Wacht am Rhein! Da kamen zum Rhein die Franzosen, Ein kampfesmuthiger Troß, Mit übermüthigem Tosen, Mit Sturm- und Donnergeschoß! Da klang die goldige Zither, Da sang die Loreley: Da strömten die deutschen Ritter Zu ihrem Schutze herbei. Sie scheuten keine Gefahren[,] Der Sieg, er wurde ihr Lohn; Auf Loreley's goldigen Haaren Glänzt goldig die Kaiserkron'! Des Rheines Wellen verschlingen Die übermüthig ihm nahn: Auch das hat mit ihrem Singen Die Loreley gethan!
Confirmed with Siegmey, Die neue Odyssee. Tragikomische Irrfahrt durch moderne Culturgebiete, Berlin: Denicke's Verlag, [no year], pages 37-38.
Text Authorship:
- by Siegbert Meyer (1840 - 1883), "Die neue Loreley" [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 (Friedrich) Oskar Wermann (1840 - 1906), "Die neue Loreley", op. 19 (Gesänge für Soprano, Alt, Tenor und Bass), Heft 2 no. 18, published 1878 [ satb quartet ], Dresden: Plötner & Meinhold [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The new Loreley", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 110
Now I know what it means, The song of the Loreley: The fairy-tale from olden times -- It has once more become new for us! The most German of maidens is sitting Upon the high, craggy stone, Her shining armour is sparkling, -- Thus she kept watch by the Rhine! Then the French came to the Rhine, A train of battle-ready soldiers, With boisterous raging, With stormy and thunderous shooting! Then the golden zither sounded, Then sang the Loreley: Thereupon the German knights Streamed hither to her defense. They dreaded no dangers, Victory was their reward; Upon the golden hair of the Loreley The imperial crown shone in golden radiance! The waves of the Rhine devour Those who approach it overconfidently: With her singing the Loreley Has done that, too!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Siegbert Meyer (1840 - 1883), "Die neue Loreley"
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 128