Night Song of the Bleaching Girl | Waves glittered through the night

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by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Der Bleicherin Nachtlied

(Sung text for setting by R. Schumann)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT DUT ENG FRE

 ... 

Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein,
In des stillen Mondes Hut!
Bist du bleich, dann bist du gut,
Bist du bleich, dann bist du rein,
Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein!
Bleich muss alles Ende sein.

Sonne gibt zu lichten Schein,
Läßt dem Herzen keine Rast;
Ist der Tag nur erst erblasst,
Wird das Herz auch ruhig sein.
Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein!
Bleich muss alles Ende sein.

War ein töricht Mägdelein,
Rot und frisch mein Angesicht;
Rote Wangen taugen nicht,
Locken Unglück nur herein.
Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein!
Bleich muss alles Ende sein.

Eile dich und bleiche fein!
Hab' ja treu gewartet dein;
Legt man mich ins Grab hinein,
Deck' in Frieden mein Gebein!
Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein!
Bleich muss alles Ende sein!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-5 of the original text.

Composition:

Robert Schumann

Text Authorship:

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), appears in Lieder eines Malers mit Randzeichnungen seiner Freunde, first published 1838

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
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Nachtlied van een bleekster", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nachtlied van de bleekster", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Night Song of the Bleaching Girl", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de nuit de la blanchisseuse", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2007-02-24
Line count: 30
Word count: 149

Night Song of the Bleaching Girl

(Sung text translation for setting by R. Schumann)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

 ... 

Bleach, bleach, white linen,
In the care of the quiet moon!
If you are bleached, then you are good,
If you are bleached, then you are clean.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

The sun's light is too bright,
It leaves my heart no rest;
When daylight has finally faded away,
My heart, too, shall be quietened.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

I was a foolish maiden,
Rosy and fresh was my face;
Red cheeks are not a good thing,
They only bring misfortune upon you.
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

Hurry and bleach nicely!
For I waited faithfully for you;
When they lay me in my grave,
Cover my bones in peace!
Bleach, bleach, white linen,
Pale all endings must be.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 2-5 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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 Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), appears in Lieder eines Malers mit Randzeichnungen seiner Freunde, first published 1838
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This text was added to the website: 2009-09-21
Line count: 30
Word count: 168