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Freude, die in frühem Lenze Meinem Haupte Blumen wand, Sieh, noch duften deine Kränze, Noch geh' ich an deiner Hand. Selbst der Kindheit Knospen blühen Auf in meiner Fantasie; Und mit frischem Reize glühen Noch in meinem Herbste sie. Früh schon kannt' ich dich! du wehtest Froh bei jedem Spiel um mich, Sprangst in meinem Balle, drehtest Leicht in meinem Kreisel dich; Liefst mit mir durch Grab und Hecken Flüchtig Schmetterlingen nach, Rittest mit auf bunten Stecken, Wirbeltest im Trommelschlag. Stürmte mit beeisten Locken Auch der Winter wild daher: O in seines Schnees Flocken Sah ich nur der Spiele mehr: Du, du selber, sprangest mitten Durch gethürmten Schnee mir vor, Saßest mit im kleinen Schlitten, Oder spanntest dich davor. Kamen auch zuweilen Sorgen: Kindersorgen sind nicht groß! Froh hüpft' ich am andern Morgen, Schaukelte die Sorgen los; Kletterte dir nach auf Bäume, Wälzte müd' im Grase mich; Und entschlief ich: süße Träume Zeigten mir im Bilde dich! Selig flohen Tag' und Jahre So an deiner Hand mir hin! - Bleicht der Herbst auch meine Haare; Doch bleibt mir dein froher Sinn. Kommt mein Winter; unvergessen Sei auch dann dein Freund von dir; Noch um meines Grabs Cypressen Schlinge deine Rosen mir!
Confirmed with Musen-Almanach fürs Jahr 1795. Herausgegeben von Johann Heinrich Voß. Hamburg bei Carl Ernst Bohn, pages 9-11.
This is the original version of Köpken's poem. In 1801 he published a substantially revised version in his Episteln, see below.
Note: When this Schubert song was published by Friedlaender, only the first stanza of the poem was at hand, so he asked Max Kalbeck to provide an additional stanza, which was then included in the publication. This stanza can be found here.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Köpken (1737 - 1811), "Freude der Kinderjahre" [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Freude der Kinderjahre", D 455 (1816), published 1887 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Johann Friedrich Reichardt.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La joia dels anys d’infantesa", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "The joy of childhood years", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Joie de l'enfance", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-03
Line count: 40
Word count: 200
Joy, which in early spring Wrapped flowers around my head, Look! Your wreaths are still fragrant, I am still walking hand in hand with you. Even the buds of childhood are still coming into Bloom in my imagination; And they glow with fresh attractions Even now in my autumn time. I got to know you very early! You hovered Happily around me in all my games, You bounced with my ball, you span Lightly with my top; You ran with me through ditches and hedges Chasing butterflies, You rode with me on bright sticks And swirled around as I struck my drum. Storming in with frozen locks of hair Savage winter also arrived; But in its snow flakes All I saw was more games: You yourself, you jumped and Joined in as I went through the snow drifts, You sat with me on small sledges Or you stretched yourself out in front of me. Even if, from time to time, cares came along: The cares of children are not big! The following morning I would spring up early And shake off the cares; I would approach you by climbing trees Or by rolling around in the grass; And when I went to sleep sweet dreams Would show me your image! Days and years flew past happily In this way, hand in hand with you! - Even though autumn has now whitened my hair, Your jolly mood still remains with me. When my winter arrives, you will not forget Your friend even then; Even around my grave's cypress trees Let your roses encircle me!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Malcolm Wren, (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 Friedrich von Köpken (1737 - 1811), "Freude der Kinderjahre"
This text was added to the website: 2017-09-27
Line count: 40
Word count: 262