In the grass I lie for some hours

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by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887)

Translation © by Garrett Medlock

Im Frühling

(Sung text for setting by R. Franz)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG ITA

Im Grase lieg' ich manche Stunde
Und sonne mich im Frühlingslicht;
Die Augen schweifen in die Runde,
Warum, wohin? Ich weiß es nicht.

Ein Blümchen pflück' ich hin und wieder
Und steck' es träumend an die Brust;
Horch' auf der Vögel süße Lieder,
Doch fehlt zum Singen mir die Lust.

Und wenn die Wolken blau und blauer
In lichter Wonne sich verweh'n,
So überkommt's mich fast wie Trauer
Und nimmer weiß ich's zu versteh'n.

Ein Immchen summt in stetem Kreise
Wie'n altes Lied in meiner Näh',
Wenn es mich stäche leise, leise,
Vielleicht! ich wüßte dann mein Weh!

Composition:

Robert Franz

Text Authorship:

by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887), "Frühlingsdämmerung", appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch: Lieder, no. 7, first published 1848

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

ENG English (Garrett Medlock) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "In primavera", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 99

In spring

(Sung text translation for setting by R. Franz)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

In the grass I lie for some hours
And sun myself in the spring light;
My eyes wander in a circle,
Why, to where? I know not.

A little flower I pick here and there
And stick dreamily upon my breast;
I listen to the bird's sweet song,
But lack the desire to sing myself.

And when the blue and bluer clouds
In sunny delight blow away,
Then I am nearly overcome with grief,
And never do I know how to understand it.

A little bee hums in a constant circle
Close to me, like an old song,
If it stung me softly, softly,
Perhaps! I would understand then my pain!

Translations of title(s):
"Im Frühling" = "In spring"
"Frühlingsdämmerung" = "Spring twilight"

¹ Franz: "And"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Garrett Medlock, (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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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887), "Frühlingsdämmerung", appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch: Lieder, no. 7, first published 1848
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This text was added to the website: 2019-01-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 112