by Karl Gottfried Theodor Winkler (1775 - 1856), as Theodor Hell
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

O wie wogt es sich schön auf der Fluth
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
O wie wogt es sich schön auf der Fluth, 
Wenn die müde Welle im Schlummer ruht!
Leise verschwand der letzte Sonnenschein
Und sich die Sterne dort oben reihn.
Und sich der Nachthauch hebt so sanft und mild,
Düfte entathmend aus fernem Gefild.
O wie woget und singet es sich hold, 
Trocknend der nassen Locken Gold.
O wie schwimmt sichs so schön auf der Fluth, 
Wenn nichts als wir an der Brust ihr ruht. 
Der Wächter lehnet im Dämmerungschein
Über dem Thurm, den die Zeit stürzt ein, 
Bekreuzet sich, brummt ein frommes Gebet 
Und horcht auf das Lüftchen, das zauberisch weht. 
O wie schwimmt sichs und singt sich's so hold, 
Trocknend indess der Locken Gold.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   C. Weber 

About the headline (FAQ)

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Confirmed with Oberon. King of the Fairies, A Romantic Fairy Opera, The Text adapted to the German Stage by Theodore Hell (In German and English), London: A. Schloss, >>1841, page 34.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Albert Schloss) , no title
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Oh, how lovely to undulate", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Oh, comme il est doux de flotter sur les flots", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website: 2024-10-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 121

Oh, how lovely to undulate
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oh, how lovely to undulate upon the waters,
When the weary wave rests in slumber!
Quietly the last sunshine has vanished
And the stars on high appear in their formations.
And the night breeze rises so gently and mildly,
Breathing forth scents from distant fields.
Oh how lovely to undulate and sing upon the waters,
Drying the gold of our wet curls.
Oh how lovely to swim upon the waters,
When nothing but we rest upon the waters' breast.
In the twilight glow the watchman leans out
Over the tower, which time shall cause to collapse,
He crosses himself, growls a pious prayer
And hearkens to the breeze that blows magically.
Oh how lovely to swim and sing,
The meanwhile drying the gold of our curls.

View text with all available footnotes

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2024-10-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 131