I love a flower | I love a flower, if 'tis requited, I know not

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

Translation © by John H. Campbell

Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche

(Sung text for setting by J. Rosenhain)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche;
Das macht mir Schmerz.
Ich schau' in alle Blumenkelche
Und such' ein Herz.

Es duften die Blumen im Abendscheine,
Die Nachtigall schlägt.
Ich such' ein Herz, so schön als das meine,
So schön bewegt.

Die Nachtigall schlägt, und ich verstehe
Den süßen Gesang:
Uns beiden ist so bang' und wehe,
So weh und bang.

Composition:

Jakob Rosenhain

Text Authorship:

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Neuer Frühling, no. 4

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (John H. Campbell) , "I love a flower", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "J'aime une fleur, mais ne sais point laquelle", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

I love a flower

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Rosenhain)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

I love a flower, if 'tis requited, I know not,
that gives me pain.
I look into all flower-blooms
and seek a heart.

Flowers are fragrant in the evening-light;
the nightingale sings,
I search for a heart, as beautiful as mine,
that moves as beautifully.

The nightingale sings, and I understand
the sweet song:
we're both so anxious and sad,
so sad and anxious.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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 Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Neuer Frühling, no. 4
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64