Whirr, whirr, my spindle

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by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Lied der Spinnerin

(Sung text for setting by W. Courvoisier)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Schnurre, schnurre, meine Spindel,
Dreh' dich ohne Rast und Ruh'!
Todtenhemd und Kinderwindel
Und das Brautbett rüstest du.

Goldner Faden, kann nicht sagen,
Welch ein Schicksal dir bestimmt,
Ob mit Freuden, ob mit Klagen
Das Gespinst ein Ende nimmt.

 ... 

Schnurre, Spindel, schnurre leise,
Rund ist wie dein Rad dein Glück;
Gehst du selig auf die Reise,
Kehrst du weinend wohl zurück.

In die Wolken geht die Sonne,
Schnell verweht im Wind ein Wort;
Wie der Faden rollt die Wonne,
Rollen Lieb' und Treue fort.

Schnurre, Spindel, schnurr' im Kreise,
Dreh' dich ohne Rast und Ruh' --
Und ihr Thränen, fließet leise,
Fließet unaufhaltsam zu!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6 of the original text.

Composition:

Walter Courvoisier

Text Authorship:

by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Lied der Spinnerin", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen

See other settings of this text.

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

This text was added to the website: 2010-09-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 130

Song of the spinning girl

(Sung text translation for setting by W. Courvoisier)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Whirr, whirr, my spindle,
Turn without pause!
Burial shroud and child's diaper
And the bridal bed, you equip them all.

Golden thread, I cannot say
What fate has been determined for you,
Whether with happiness, whether with lamenting
The spun yarn shall end.

 ... 

Whirr, spindle, whirr quietly,
Your happiness is as round as your wheel; 
If you blissfully set out on a journey,
You may well return weeping.

The sun goes into the clouds,
The wind quickly dissipates a word;
Like a thread, bliss rolls,
Love and faithfulness roll away.

Whirr, spindle, whirr in a circle,
Turn with out pause and rest!
And ye tears, flow quietly,
Flow unstoppably on!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Lied der Spinnerin", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen
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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 143