A maiden wished to arise early,
Wished to go into her father's garden,
She wished to pick red roses,
From which she wished to make herself
A lovely wreath.

It was to be her bridal wreath:
"For the fine lad, for my lad,
You red roses, I pick you,
From you I wish to twine
A wreath so lovely."

She walked to and fro in the greenery,
Instead of roses she found rosemary:
"So you, my faithful one, are lost!
No rose is to be found,
[There shall be] no wreath so lovely."

She walked to and fro in the garden,
Instead of roses she picked rosemary:
"My faithful one, I offer you this [instead]!
I shall rest by you under the lime trees,
[In] my lovely burial wreath."

A huntsman hunts in good spirits,
He hunts with fresh, free boldness
Under the green lime trees,
He hunts many a little animal
With his swift greyhounds.

He hunts over hill and deep dale,
Under the bushes everywhere.
He blows his horn.
His beloved is watching for the huntsman
Yonder on the green street.

He spreads his coat upon the grass,
Asks here to sit down beside him,
Embraced by a white arm:
"Take care of yourself, my source of comfort,
All my longing is for you.

No frost touches us, no snow cools us,
In the green clover still burn
Two little roses upon the heath,
In the light of love, in the light of the sun,
The two shall not be separated."

Once in the mild brightness of May,
The young maidens of Tübingen had a dance.

They danced and danced all together
About a lime tree in the green valley.

A stranger, a lad in a proud garment,
Soon attached himself to the most beautiful maiden;

He stretched out his hands to lead her into the dance,
He placed a sea-green wreath upon her hair.

"Oh young man, why are your arms so cold?"
"In the depths of the Neckar (river) it is not warm."

"Oh young man, why are your hands so pale?"
"The burning rays of the sun do not penetrate into the water."

He dances away with her, far from the lime tree:
"Stop, young man!  Listen, my mother is calling me!"

He dances away with her along the banks of the Neckar (River):
"Stop, young man!  Woe, I am becoming so frightened!"

He seizes her tightly about her slender body:
"Lovely maiden, you are the waterman's bride!"

He dances away with her right into the waves:
"Oh father, and you, oh mother mine!"

He leads her into his crystal hall:
"Adieu, to you, my sisters all!"

Early, when the cock crows,
Before the stars disappear,
I must stand at the hearth;
I must light the fire.

Beautiful is the blaze of the flames;
[The sparks fly]1.
I gaze into the fire,
Sunk in grief.

Suddenly, it comes to me,
Unfaithful boy,
That last night
I dreamed of you.

Tears upon tears then 
Pour down;
So the day comes -
O would it were gone again!

[ ... ]

Bleach, bleach, white linen,
In the care of the quiet moon!
If you are bleached, then you are good,
If you are bleached, then you are clean.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

The sun's light is too bright,
It leaves my heart no rest;
When daylight has finally faded away,
My heart, too, shall be quietened.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

I was a foolish maiden,
Rosy and fresh was my face;
Red cheeks are not a good thing,
They only bring misfortune upon you.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

Hurry and bleach nicely!
For I waited faithfully for you;
When they lay me in my grave,
Cover my bones in peace!
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.