Blackbird in your dark garb

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by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wenn der Vogel naschen will

(Sung text for setting by E. Meyer-Helmund)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Amsel in dem schwarzen Kleid
Treff' ich hier dich wieder?
O wie gern zur Maienzeit
Hört' ich deine Lieder!
Und nun sitz'st du still und stumm
In den Rebenschlingen. --
"Wenn der Vogel naschen will,
Pflegt er nicht zu singen."

Heda, Geigerlein, wohin?
Ei, was muss ich sehen!
Um das Haus der Winzerin
Schleichst du auf den Zehen.
Nimm hervor das Saitenspiel,
Lass ein Stücklein klingen!
"Wenn der Vogel naschen will,
Pflegt er nicht zu singen."

Composition:

Erik Meyer-Helmund

Text Authorship:

by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Wenn der Vogel naschen will", appears in Spielmannslieder

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

This text was added to the website: 2007-04-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 77

When the bird wishes to nibble

(Sung text translation for setting by E. Meyer-Helmund)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Blackbird in your dark garb,
Do I find you here once more?
Oh, how gladly in May-time
I heard your songs!
And now you are sitting silent and mute
In the loops of the grapevine. --
"When the bird wishes to nibble
It tends not to sing."

Hey there, little violinist, whither?
What must I see!
On tiptoe you are sneaking 
About the house of the lady vintner.
Take out your stringed instrument,
Let a little song ring out!
"When the bird wishes to nibble
It tends not to sing."

Translations of title(s):
"Amsel in dem schwarzen Kleid" = "Blackbird in your dark garb"
"Wenn der Vogel naschen will" = "When the bird wishes to nibble"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Wenn der Vogel naschen will", appears in Spielmannslieder
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This text was added to the website: 2020-01-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 90