by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß
 (Sung text for setting by M. Schnorr von Carolsfeld)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE FRE POR
Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß?
O sprich mein Lieb warum?
Warum sind denn im grünen Gras
Die blauen Veilchen so stumm?

 ... 

Warum scheint denn die Sonn' auf die Au,
So kalt und verdrießlich herab?
Warum ist denn die Erde so grau,
Und öde wie ein Grab?

Warum bin ich selbst so krank und so trüb?
Mein liebes Liebchen sprich
O sprich mein herzallerliebstes Lieb,
Warum verließest du mich?

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Perquè són les roses tan pàl·lides", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Why are the roses so pale?", copyright ©
  • ENG English (John Todhunter) , appears in Heine's Book of Songs, first published 1907
  • FRE French (Français) (Charles Beltjens) , no title, appears in Intermezzo lyrique, no. 23, first published 1827
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Pourquoi les roses sont-elles si pâles?", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • POR Portuguese (Português) (Axel Bergstedt) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Waarom zijn toch de rozen zo flets?
O spreek, mijn lief, waarom?
Waarom in ‘t gras hoor ‘k geen geklets,
Zijn de viooltjes zo stom?

 ... 

Waarom schijnt toch het zonlicht zo flauw,
Zo koud, zo droefgeestig, zo laf?
Waarom is toch de aarde zo grauw
En aak’lig als een graf?

Waarom ben ik zelf zo ziek en zo mat?
Mijn lieve liefje, spreek!
O spreek, mijn allerliefste schat,
Waarom liet je mij in de steek?

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Note for stanza 4, line 4: "Waarom liet je": Bij Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel in de herhaling tweemaal waarom, en liet je te zingen op twee zestienden.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2017 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com


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This text was added to the website: 2017-02-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 93