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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
O süße Mutter See original
Language: German (Deutsch)
O süße Mutter, Ich kann nicht spinnen, Ich kann nicht sitzen Im Stüblein innen, Im engen Haus; Es stockt das Rädchen, Es reißt das Fädchen, O süße Mutter, Ich muß hinaus. Der Frühling zucket Hell durch die Scheiben, Wer kann nun sitzen, Wer kann nun bleiben Und fleißig sein? O laß mich gehen, Und laß mich sehen, Ob ich kann fliegen Wie Vögelein. O laß mich sehen, O laß mich lauschen, Wo Lüftlein wehen, Wo Bächlein rauschen, Wo Blümlein blühn. Laß mich sie pflücken Und schön mir schmücken Die braunen Locken Mit buntem Grün. Und kommen Knaben Im wilden Haufen, So will ich traben, So will ich laufen, Nicht stille stehn; Will hinter Hecken Mich hier verstecken, Bis sie mit Lärmen Vorüber gehn. Bringt aber Blumen Ein frommer Knabe, Die ich zum Kranze Just nötig habe, Was soll ich tun? Darf ich wohl nickend, Ihm freundlich blickend, O süße Mutter, Zur Seit' ihm ruhn?
Composition:
- Set to music by Karl Ludwig Friedrich Hetsch (1806 - 1872), as Louis Hetsch, "O süße Mutter", op. 23 no. 3, published 1848 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 3. Liebesfrühling, in 1. Erster Strauß. Erwacht, no. 72
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
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Oh sweet mother", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "O dearest Mother"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "O dolce madre", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , John Versmoren , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 45
Word count: 159
Oh sweet mother See original
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Oh sweet mother, I cannot spin; I cannot sit indoors In the little room, In the confining house; The spinning-wheel halts, The thread tears. Oh sweet mother, I must get out! Spring is peeping Brightly through the window-panes; Who can then sit And stay put now And be industrious? Oh let me go, Oh let me see If I can fly Like the little birds. Oh let me go, Oh let me listen Where the breezes are blowing, Where the streams are rushing, Where the flowers are blooming. Let me pick the flowers And adorn my brown curls beautifully, Oh sweet mother, With vivid green. And if boys come along In a wild horde, I will run, I will hurry, I will not stand still; Behind the hedges I will hide myself here Until they have Noisily passed by. But if a good lad Brings flowers That are just what I need For my wreath, What shall I do? May I, nodding And gazing at him in a friendly manner, Oh sweet mother, Rest at his side?
Translated titles:
O süße Mutter = Oh sweet mother
O süsse Mutter, ich kann nicht spinnen = Oh sweet mother, I cannot spin
Die Spinnerin = The spinning girl
O süße Mutter = Oh sweet mother
O süsse Mutter, ich kann nicht spinnen = Oh sweet mother, I cannot spin
Die Spinnerin = The spinning girl
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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 Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), no title, appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in 3. Liebesfrühling, in 1. Erster Strauß. Erwacht, no. 72
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This text was added to the website: 2008-03-26
Line count: 45
Word count: 181