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Songs of Ophelia
Song Cycle by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
View original-language texts alone: Ophelia-Lieder
(The following is a multi-text setting.)
How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet [an adaptation]
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
See other settings of this text.
Note: this is often referred to as the Walsingham Ballad, and is quoted in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5. Ophelia is singing.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti's poem An old song ended refers to this song.
Quoted in Rhian Samuel's The Gaze.
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone; At his head a grass green turf, At his heels a stone.1
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
Quoted in Rhian Samuel's The Gaze.
1 Rihm adds "Oho! Oho! Nay, but ... mark"Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
(The following is a multi-text setting.)
Wie erkenn' ich dein Treulieb Vor den andern nun? An den Muschelhut und Stab. Und den Sandalschuh'n.
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet [an adaptation] and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Er ist lange tot und hin, Tot und hin, Fräulein! Ihm zu Häupten ein Rasen grün, Ihm zu Fuß ein Stein.
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845)
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]How will I know your true love From others now? By the mussel-hat and staff. And the sandal shoes. He is long dead and gone, Dead and gone, Miss! At his head green grass, At his feet a stone.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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 August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet [an adaptation] and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Walter Raleigh, Sir (1552? - 1618)
Go to the general single-text view
White his shroud as the mountain snow, Larded with sweet flowers; Which bewept to the grave did go With true-love showers.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
Sein Leichenhemd weiß wie Schnee zu sehn, Geziert mit Blumensegen, Das still betränt zum Grab mußt gehn Von Liebesregen.
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845)
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
...
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, appears in Hamlet
- sometimes misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
See other settings of this text.
These words are sung by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5, but they are probably not by Shakespeare.
Auf morgen ist Sankt Valentins Tag, Wohl an der Zeit noch früh, Und ich 'ne Maid am Fensterschlag Will sein eur Valentin. Er war bereit, tät an sein Kleid, Tät auf die Kammertür, Ließ ein die Maid, die als 'ne Maid Ging nimmermehr herfür.
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view
Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day, All in the early morning time, And I, a maid at the window Will be your Valentine. He was ready, put on his clothes, Opened up the chamber door, Let in the maid, who as a maid Nevermore departed.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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 August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-02-09
Line count: 8
Word count: 44
Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloß, Leider, ach leider! Und manche Trän' fiel in Grabes Schoß -- ... Ihr müßt singen: «'Nunter, ... Und ruft ihr ihn 'nunter.» ... Denn traut lieb Fränzel ist all meine Lust. ...
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , no title, appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view
...
Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?
Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?
Er ist Tot, o weh!
In dein Todesbett geh,
Er kommt ja nimmer zurück.
Sein Bart war so weiß wie Schnee,
Sein Haupt dem Flachse gleich:
Er ist hin, er ist hin,
Und kein Leid bringt Gewinn:
Gott helf' ihm ins Himmelreich!
Text Authorship:
- by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845), no title
Based on:
- a text in English by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , no title, appears in Hamlet and misattributed to William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Go to the general single-text view