I walked under dense branches

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by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ging unter dichten Zweigen

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ging unter dichten Zweigen
Am Morgen im grünen Wald,
Der Vöglein lust'ger Reigen
Von allen Wipfeln schallt'.

Und riefen viel einander:
"Heraus, wo Vöglein sind,
Zu singen mit einander
In den kühlen Morgenwind!"

Da hat's auch mir geklungen
Tief in die Brust hinein,
Da hat sich's drin geschwungen,
Als wär's ein Vögelein.

Und ist ein Vöglein drinnen,
So flieg' es frei heraus,
Und ist ein Lied darinnen,
So zieh' es fröhlich aus!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• K. Reinecke

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Text Authorship:

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), "Frühlingslied", appears in Lieder, in Frühling und Liebe, first published 1844 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Harry Joelson , Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

I walked under dense branches

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Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

I walked under dense branches
In the morning in the green forest,
The merry roundelay of the birds
Sounded from all the tree-tops.

  And they all called to one another:
"Go forth, birdlets, wherever you are,
To sing with each other
Into the cool morning wind!"

  Then it sounded for me as well,
Deep into my breast,
There was a vibration therein,
As if it were a birdlet.

  And if there be a bird therein,
Then may it fly forth freely,
And if there be a song there,
Then may it go forth joyfully!

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Translations of titles:
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Ging unter duft'gen Zweigen" = "I walked under scented branches"
"Heraus" = "Go forth"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), "Frühlingslied", appears in Lieder, in Frühling und Liebe, first published 1844
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general view

This text was added to the website: 2026-04-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 103