by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Das Ährenfeld
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Ein Leben war's im Ährenfeld,
Wie sonst wohl nirgend auf der Welt:
Musik und Kirmes weit und breit,
Und lauter Lust und Fröhlichkeit.

Die Grillen zirpten früh am Tag
Und luden ein zum [Zechgelag]1:
« Hier ist es gut, herein, herein!
Hier schenkt man Tau und Blütenwein!»

Der Käfer kam mit seiner Frau,
Trank hier ein Mäßlein kühlen Tau,
Und wo nur winkt' ein Blümelein,
Da kehrte gleich das Bienchen ein.

Den Fliegen ward die Zeit nicht lang,
Sie summten manchen frohen Sang,
Die Mücken tanzten ihren Reih'n
Wohl auf und ab im Sonnenschein.

Das war ein Leben ringsumher,
Als ob es ewig Kirmes wär';
Die Gäste zogen aus und ein
Und ließen sich's gar wohl dort sein.

Wie aber geht es in der Welt?
Heut' ist gemäht das Ährenfeld,
Zerstöret ist das schöne Haus,
Und hin ist Kirmes, Tanz und Schmaus.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Mendelssohn 

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Mendelssohn: "Hochgelag"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El camp d’espigues", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Het korenveld", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The wheat-field", copyright © 2016
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le champ de blé", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-10-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 142

The wheat‑field
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
What a life it was in the wheat-field,
Like nowhere else in the world:
Music and fun far and wide,
And loud joy and gaiety.

The crickets chirped early in the day
Summoning everyone to the feast:
"It is good here - come in, come in!
Here one is given dew and nectar wine!"

The beetle came with his wife,
And drank here some cool dew,
And wherever a little flower beckoned,
A bee came immediately to call. 

The flies did not think time dragged,
And hummed many happy tunes;
The midges danced their rounds
Up and down in the sunshine.

It was such a life all around
As if there would be an eternal festival:
The guests came and went
And enjoyed themselves thoroughly there.

But how is it really in the world?
Today the field of wheat has been reaped;
Destroyed is that beautiful dwelling,
And gone are festival, dance, and feast.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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:

 

This text was added to the website: 2016-10-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 153