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Was singt ihr heut so munter, Ihr Schwalben, und so schön, Und schwirrt zu mir herunter Ihr aus den blauen Höhn? Seid ihr vorbeigeflogen Dort an dem schönen See, Von dem ich weggezogen Einst weit mit Leid und Weh? Wie prächtig muß er flimmern Wohl jetzt zur Frühlingszeit; Wie hold wohl müßen schimmern Die Ufer weit und breit! Ihr Schwalben mögt ermessen Wohl auch der Heimath Weh: Ich kann ihn nicht vergessen, Den schönen blauen See! O hebt, o hebt die Schwingen, Fliegt über's blühnde Land, Noch heut' den Gruß zu bringen Von fern dem trauten Strand! Und badet das Gefieder Ihr müd im klaren See, Singt eure schönsten Lieder Ihm zu von Glück und Weh!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 69-70.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Schwalben", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 78 [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 Gustav Flügel (1812 - 1900) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Die Schwalben" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Friedrich) Oskar Wermann (1840 - 1906), "Die Schwalben", op. 98 (Zehn Chorgesänge für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass), Heft 2 no. 6, published 1895 [ satb chorus ], Dresden: A. Köhler [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The swallows", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2022-08-05
Line count: 24
Word count: 117
Why are you singing so merrily today, Ye swallows, and so beautifully, And ye whirr down to me From the blue heights? Did you fly past The beautiful lake there, From which I once moved far away With sorrow and pain? How splendidly it must be sparkling Now in springtime; How beautifully must be shimmering The shoreline far and wide! Ye swallows might appreciate The pain of homesickness as well: I cannot forget it, The lovely blue lake! Oh lift, oh lift your wings, Fly over the blossoming countryside, To bring my greeting today yet To the familiar shore from afar! And if, [when you are] weary, you bathe Your feathers in the clear lake, Sing to it your most beautiful songs Of happiness and pain!
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), "Die Schwalben", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 78
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-05
Line count: 24
Word count: 127