Young love | Even when I wore the bright clothes of a boy

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by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776) and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)

Translation © by Laura Stanfield Prichard

Die frühe Liebe

(Sung text for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Schon im bunten Knabenkleide,
Pflegten hübsche Mägdelein
Meine liebste Augenweide,
Mehr als Pupp' und Ball, zu sein.

Ich vergaß der Vogelnester,
Warf mein Steckenpferd ins Gras,
Wenn am Baum bei meiner Schwester
Eine schöne Dirne saß;

Freute mich der muntern Dirne,
Ihres rothen Wangenpaars,
Ihres Mundes, ihrer Stirne,
Ihres blonden Lockenhaars;

Blickt' auf Busentuch und Mieder,
Hinterwärts gelehnt am Baum;
Streckte dann ins Gras mich nieder,
Dicht an ihres Kleides Saum.

 ...

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

This is the version of Hölty's poem heavily reworked by Voß. For the original version, with the title Minnehuldigung, see below.

Composition:

Franz Peter Schubert

Text Authorship:

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777
by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L’amor primerenc", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Vroege liefde", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Laura Stanfield Prichard) , "Young love", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Amour précoce", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 95

Young love

(Sung text translation for setting by F. Schubert)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Even when I wore the bright clothes of a boy,
Pretty maidens were
My preferred eye candy,
Rather than dolls or balls.

I forgot about bird’s nests,
Threw my stick horse on the lawn,
Whenever a bonny lass sat
Next to my sister, under a tree.

I was thrilled by the merry lass,
By her rosy cheeks,
Her mouth, her forehead,
Her blonde curls.

I would gaze at her blouse and bodice,
As she leaned against the tree;
Then I'd stretch out on the grass,
Close to the hem of her dress.

 ...

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

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Stanfield Prichard, (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 Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777 and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826), "Die frühe Liebe", written 1773, first published 1777
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This text was added to the website: 2015-12-29
Line count: 20
Word count: 120