by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ländliches Lied
 (Sung text for setting by R. Schumann)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE POR
Und wenn die Primel schneeweiß blickt
Am Bach, am Bach aus dem Wiesengrund,
Und wenn am Baum die Kirschblüth nickt 
Und die Vöglein pfeifen im Wald allstund:
Da flickt der Fischer das Netz in Ruh,
Denn der See liegt heiter im Sonnenglanz;
Da sucht das Mädel die rothen Schuh,
Und schnürt das Mieder sich eng zum Tanz,
Und denket still,
Ob der Liebste, der Liebste nicht kommen will.

Es klingt die Fiedel, es brummt der Baß,
Der Dorfschulz sitzet im Schank beim Wein,
Die Tänzer drehn sich ohn' Unterlaß 
An der Lind', an der Lind' im Abendschein.
Und geht's nach Haus' um Mitternacht,
Glühwürmchen trägt das Laternchen vor,
Da küsset der Bube sein Dirnel sacht,
Und sagt ihr leis' ein Wörtchen ins Ohr,
Und sie denken beid':
O du selige fröhliche Maienzeit.

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Text Authorship:

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Landelijk lied", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Spring", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Printemps", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • POR Portuguese (Português) (Margarida Moreno) , "Canção campestre", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Auditorium du Louvre , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 139

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
And when the primrose peeks, white as snow,
Out of the meadow beside the brook,
When the cherry blossom nods
And the birds whistle in the forest at all hours:
Then the fisher mends his net in peace,
For the lake rests serenely in the sunshine;
Then the maiden searches for her shoes
And laces her bodice tightly for the dance,
And wonders silently
If her beloved will not come.

The fiddle sounds, the bass booms,
The sheriff sits in the pub drinking wine,
The dancers twirl unceasingly
 ...  In the evening glow.
And when they're on their way home at midnight
The fireflies light them on their way with their lanterns;
Then he kisses his girl gently
And whispers a word in her ear,
And they both think to themselves:
Oh you blissful, happy Maytime!

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2009-05-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 144