Tell me, where have the violets gone

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by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Veilchen

(Sung text for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Sagt, wo sind die Veilchen hin?
Die so freudig glänzten,
Und der Blumen-Königinn sic
Ihren Weg bekränzten?
     "Jüngling, ach! Der Lenz entflieht:
     "Diese Veilchen sind verblüht!"

Sagt, wo sind die Rosen hin?
Die wir singend pflückten,
Als sich Hirt' und Schäferinn
Hut und Busen schmückten?
     "Mädchen, ach! Der Sommer flieht:
     "Diese Rosen sind verblüht!"

Führe denn zum Bächlein mich,
Das die Veilchen tränkte;
Das mit leisem Murmeln sich,
In die Thäler senkte.
     "Luft und Sonne glühten sehr:
     "Jenes Bächlein ist nicht mehr!"

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Composition:

Josephine Lang

Certosa Verlag

Text Authorship:

by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Nach einem alten Lied"

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 167

The violets

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Tell me, where have the violets gone
That shone so happily
And garlanded the pathway
Of the Queen of Flowers?
     "Young man, ah! Spring is fleeting:
     "These violets have faded!"

Ah tell me, where have the roses gone?
That we picked while singing,
When the shepherd and shepherdess
Were decorating hat and bosom with roses?
     "Young maiden, ah! Summer is fleeting:
     "Those roses have faded!"

Lead me to the little brook
That watered the violets;
The brook that descended
Into the valleys with quiet murmuring.
     "The winds and sun were very hot:
     "That little brook no longer exists!"

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3 of the original text.

Translations of titles:
"Die Veilchen" = "The violets"
"Erinnerungen" = "Memories"
"Nach einem alten Lied" = "After an old song"
"Nach einem alten Liede" = "After an old song"
"Sag, wo sind die Veilchen hin" = "Tell me, where have the violets gone"
"Verblüht!" = "Faded"
"Vergänglichkeit" = "Ephemerality"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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 Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814), "Nach einem alten Lied"
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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-09
Line count: 36
Word count: 204