by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Hexenlied
 (Sung text for setting by K. Weigl)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA LIT
  Die Schwalbe fliegt,
Der Frühling siegt,
Und spendet uns Blumen zum Kranze!
Bald huschen wir 
Leis' aus der Thür,
Und fliegen zum prächtigen Tanze!

  Ein schwarzer Bock,
Ein Besenstock,
Die Ofengabel, der Wocken,
Reißt uns geschwind,
Wie Blitz und Wind,
Durch sausende Lüfte zum Brocken!

  Um Beelzebub
Tanzt unser Trupp
Und küßt ihm die kralligen Hände!
Ein Geisterschwarm
Faßt uns beim Arm,
Und schwinget im Tanzen die Brände!

  Und Beelzebub
Verheißt dem Trupp
Der Tanzenden Gaben auf Gaben:
Sie sollen schön
In Seide gehn
Und Töpfe voll Goldes sich graben!

  Ein Feuerdrach'
Umflieget das Dach,
Und bringet uns Butter und Eier!
Die Nachbarn dann seh'n
Die Funken wehn,
Und schlagen ein Kreuz vor dem Feuer!

  Die Schwalbe fliegt,
Der Frühling siegt,
Und Blumen entblühn um die Wette!
Bald huschen wir 
Leis' aus der Thür,
Juchheissa zum prächtigen Tanze!

Composition:

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó de les bruixes", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Heksenlied (ofwel: Ander meilied)", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2018
  • ENG English [singable] (Vally Weigl, née Pick) (Lydia Perera)
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chanson de sorcières", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Nicola Sfredda) , "Canto di streghe", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 143

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The swallows are flying,
Spring has prevailed,
And is giving us flowers for our wreaths.
Soon we will flit 
Softly out of the door
And fly to the glorious dance!
 
A black goat, 
A broomstick,
The oven fork, the distaff,
Snap us along swiftly 
Like lightning and wind,
Through roaring winds to Brocken.
 
Around Beelzebub 
Our coven dances
And kisses him on his clawed hands.
A bevy of ghosts 
Seizes us by the arm
Swinging torches in the dance.
 
And Beelzebub 
Promises the coven
of dancers gifts upon gifts:
They will be beautiful 
Walking in silk,
And they will dig up pots full of gold.
 
A fire-breathing dragon flies 
Around the roof
And brings us butter and eggs.
The neighbours then see 
Sparks blowing
And they cross themselves against the fire.
 
The swallows are flying,
Spring has prevailed,
And flowers rival each other in blooming.
Soon we will flit 
Softly out of the door;
Hurray for the glorious dance!!

Translation of titles:
"Hexenlied" = "Witches' song"
"And'res Maienlied" = "Another May song"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2018-10-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 163