Why are the roses so pale? | Why are the roses so pale?

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

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:

Malvina Schnorr von Carolsfeld

Neun Lieder für Sopran oder Tenor mit Begleitung des Pianoforte von Ludwig und Malvina Schnorr von Carolsfeld, herausgegeben von Malvina Schnorr von Carolsfeld

Text Authorship:

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 23

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

Why are the roses so pale?

(Sung text translation for setting by M. Schnorr von Carolsfeld)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

 Why are the roses so pale?
 o speak, my love, why?
 Why in the green grass
 are the blue violets so silent?

 ... 

 Why does the sun shine down on the meadow,
 so coldly and morosely?
 Why is the earth so gray
 and desolate like a grave?

 Why am I myself so ill and dull?
 My lovely darling speak,
 O speak, my heart's most beloved love,
 why have you abandoned me?

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

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.
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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 23
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97