Lilac | Now I know, despite everything, that it is spring again

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by Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Printemps allemand

(Sung text for setting by H. Eisler)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE

Nun weiß ich doch, 's ist Frühling wieder.
Ich sah es nicht vor so viel Nacht
und lange hatt' ich's nicht gedacht.
Nun merk' ich erst, schon blüht der Flieder.

Wie fand ich dies Geheimnis wieder?
Man hatte mich darum gebracht.
Was hat die Welt aus uns gemacht!
Ich dreh' mich um, da blüht der Flieder.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Composition:

Hanns Eisler

Text Authorship:

by Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936), "Flieder", appears in Worte in Versen, first published 1919

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Lilac", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-07-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Lilac

(Sung text translation for setting by H. Eisler)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Now I know, despite everything, that it is spring again.
I did not see it for so much night
and for a long time I did not think it.
Now I notice for the first time, the lilac is already blooming.

How did I find this secret again?
I had been robbed of it.
What has the world made of us!
I turn around -- there blooms the lilac.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Eisler's title: "German spring"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Karl Kraus (1874 - 1936), "Flieder", appears in Worte in Versen, first published 1919
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This text was added to the website: 2011-04-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 98