by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Tanzlied
 (Sung text for setting by F. Lachner)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Sie:
 Eia, wie flattert der Kranz,
 Trauter, komm mit mir zum Tanz!
 Wollen uns schwingen,
 Rasch uns erspringen
 Mitten im wonnigen Glanz,
 Trauter, komm mit mir zum Tanz!

Er:
 Wehe! wie pocht mir das Herz,
 Sage, was soll mir der Scherz?
 Laß dich umschließen,
 Laß mich zerfließen,
 Ruhend in seligem Schmerz;
 Sage, was soll mir der Scherz?

Sie:
 Eia, der Walzer erklingt,
 Pärchen an Pärchen sich schwingt,
 Mädchen und Bübchen,
 Schelmchen und Liebchen;
 Frisch, wo's am dichtesten springt,
 Pärchen an Pärchen sich schwingt!

Er:
 Wehe! mir sinket der Arm,
 Mitten im jauchzenden Schwarm,
 Wie sie sich fassen,
 Muß ich erblassen,
 Möchte vergehen im Harm
 Mitten im jauchzenden Schwarm.

Sie:
 Eia, wie flattert der Kranz,
 Heute für alle im Tanz,
 Flatterig heute,
 Morgen gescheute,
 Morgen, o Trauter, dein ganz
 Heute für alle im Tanz!

Note for Lachner's setting, stanza 2: both the published edition and autograph read "Schmerz" (not "Scherz") in line 2, while line 6 remains unchanged; in fact, the autograph shows the 'm' carefully erased, leaving "Scherz". It is unclear whether "Schmerz" in line 2 was intentional (thus breaking the pattern of all the other stanzas) or an uncorrected error.

Composition:

    Set to music by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Tanzlied", op. 86 no. 1, published 1847 [ vocal duet with piano ], Mainz, Schott

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Danslied", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Dance song", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de danse", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Johannes Becker , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 35
Word count: 135

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
She:
 Eia, look how the ribbons flutter on the wreath -
 Come dance with me, my dear!
 Let's swing,
 Let's leap quickly
 Into the middle of this delightful brilliance!
 Come dance with me, my dear!

He:
 Woe, how my heart pounds!
 Tell me, what jest is this?
 Let me embrace you,
 Let me melt away,
 Resting in blissful pain.
 Tell me, what jest is this?

She:
 Eia, the waltz is starting:
 Couple upon couple are swaying,
 Maidens and lads,
 Rogues and sweethearts!
 Quick, let's jump in where the crowd is thick.
 Couple upon couple are swaying!

He:
 Woe! my arm has dropped
 In the middle of the jubilant crowd.
 See how they touch each other!
 I turn pale...
 Perhaps I will be hurt
 In the middle of the jubilant crowd.

She:
 Eia, how the ribbons flutter on the wreath
 Today, for everyone who is dancing:
 Swirling about today,
 Tomorrow gone;
 Tomorrow, o sweetheart, yours completely,
 Today, for everyone who is dancing!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 35
Word count: 160