Ich sah den Wald sich färben
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ich sah den Wald sich färben,
Die Luft war grau und stumm;
Mir war betrübt zum Sterben,
Und wußt' es kaum, warum.
Durchs Feld vom Herbstgestäude
Hertrieb das dürre Laub;
Da dacht' ich: Deine Freude
Ward so des Windes Raub.
Dein Lenz, der blütenvolle,
Dein reicher Sommer schwand;
An die gefrorne Scholle
Bist du nun festgebannt.
Da plötzlich floß ein klares
Getön in Lüften hoch:
Ein Wandervogel war es,
Der nach dem Süden zog.
Ach, wie der Schlag der Schwingen,
Das Lied ins Ohr mir kam,
Fühlt' ich's wie Trost mir dringen
Zum Herzen wundersam.
Es mahnt' aus heller Kehle
Mich ja der flücht'ge Gast:
Vergiß, o Menschenseele,
Nicht, daß du Flügel hast!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• H. Schnaubelt H. Schnaubelt sets stanzas 1-2, 4-6
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Text Authorship:
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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
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This text was added to the website: 2011-09-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 115
I saw the woods change color
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I saw the woods change color,
The sky was gray and mute;
I was as sad as death,
And scarcely knew why.
Through fields of autumn shrubbery
Dry leaves were blown;
And I thought: You were robbed of joy
By the wind.
Your Springtime, so full of blooms,
Your lush Summertime has died away;
To this frozen patch
You are now bound.
Then suddenly, a clear tone
Flew high on the breezes:
It was a migrating bird
Flying southward.
Ah, like the beating of its wings
Its song reached my ear,
I felt it as comfort
Wondrously piercing my heart.
With its bright call
The fleeing guest exhorted me:
Do not forget, O soul of man,
That you have wings!
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Translations of titles:
"Herbstlied" = "Autumn Song"
"Ich sah den Wald sich färben" = "I saw the woods change color"
"Wandervogel" = "Migrating Bird"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2025-12-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 120
