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Blickt noch so grün die Alm hinein, Der Himmel noch so klar, Und grüßt im hellsten Sonnenschein Ihn der Libellen Schaar: Ach! schwarz und düster bleibt der See; Nur wenn die Winde fächeln, Verbirgt sein tiefes, tiefes Weh Er schmerzlich unter Lächeln. Erblühen noch so wunderschön Die Rosen seinem Grund, Thun noch so jubelnd aus den Höhn Ihr Glück die Vöglein kund: Ach! schwarz und düster bleibt der See; Nur wenn die Wipfel brausen, Verweht sein tiefes, tiefes Weh Zum Trost im sanften Sausen. Die Tanne dort, die still hinab Die Zweige senkt zur Fluth, Die weiß es noch, allwo sein Grab Einst fand das junge Blut; Die weiß allein, warum der See Sich nimmermehr mag freuen, Warum sein tiefes, tiefes Weh Sich ewig muß erneuen.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 97-98.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Der Bergsee", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 108 [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 Jakob Eduard Schmölzer (1812 - 1886) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Heinrich Schulz-Beuthen (1838 - 1915), "Der Bergsee", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für Alt oder tiefere Sopranostimme mit Klavier-Begleitung) no. 2, published 1876 [ low voice and piano ], Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The mountain lake", 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: 2025-07-22
Line count: 24
Word count: 127
Though the alpine meadow be ever so green, The sky be ever so clear, And though the host of dragonflies Bring greetings in the brightest sunshine: Ah, the lake remains black and somber; Only when the winds fan it, It painfully conceals its deep, deep woe Under a smile. Though the roses may bloom Ever so wonderfully toward its depths, Though the birdlets from the heights Ever so joyfully proclaim their happiness: Ah, the lake remains black and somber; Only when the treetops swoosh, Its deep, deep woe is wafted away Comfortingly in gentle swishing. The fir yonder that quietly inclines Its branches to the waters, It still remembers where a young man Once found his grave; It alone knows why the lake Can never be happy, Why its deep, deep woe Must eternally renew itself.
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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Der Bergsee", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 108
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 137