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Gemäht sind die [Felder]1, der Stoppelwind weht,
Hoch droben in Lüften mein Drache nun steht,
Die Rippen von Holze, der Leib von Papier,
Zwei Ohren, ein Schwänzlein sind all seine Zier;
Und ich denk': so drauf liegen
Im sonnigen Strahl,
Ach, wer [doch das]2 könnte
Nur ein einziges Mal!
Da guckt' ich dem Storch in das Sommernest dort:
Guten Morgen, Frau Storchen, geht die Reise bald fort?
Ich blickt' in die Häuser zum Schornstein hinein:
[Papachen, Mamachen]3, wie seid Ihr so klein!
Tief unter mir säh' ich
Fluß, Hügel und Thal --
Ach, wer [doch das]4 könnte
Nur ein einziges Mal!
Und droben, gehoben, auf schwindelnder Bahn,
Da faßt' ich die Wolken, die segelnden an;
Ich ließ' mich besuchen von Schwalben und Krähn,
Und könnte die Lerchen, die singenden sehn,
Die Englein belauscht' ich
Im himmlischen Saal --
Ach, wer [doch das]2 könnte
Nur ein einziges Mal!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von Victor Blüthgen, Leipzig: Verlag von Edwin Schloemp, 1880, pages 216-217
1 Saar: "Wiesen"; further changes may exist not shown above.2 Berger, Schoeck: "das doch"
3 Berger, Schoeck: "O Vater und Mutter"
4 Schoeck: "das doch"
Text Authorship:
- by Victor August Eberhard Blüthgen (1844 - 1920), "Ach, wer das doch könnte" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Ach, wer doch das könnte!", op. 584 no. 5, published 1870? [ voice and piano ], from Neun Kinderlieder für 1 Stimme mit leichter Pianofortebegleitung, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Reinhard Berger (1861 - 1911), "Ach, wer das doch könnte", op. 30 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 7, published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Paul Claussnitzer (1867 - 1924), "An meinen Drachen", op. 11 no. 7, published 1901 [ voice and piano ], from Aus goldener Zeit. Sieben Kinderlieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 7, Leipzig, Senff [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Frommer (1868 - 1914), "Ach, wer das doch könnte", published 1890 [ high voice and piano ], from Neun [earlier, Fünf] Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Leipzig, Schuberth & Co., first included in a set of five in 1890, then included in a set of nine in 1892 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Victor Franz Saar (1868 - 1937), "Ach, wer doch das könnte", op. 16 (Vier Lieder für Sopran mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1896 [ soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Dieckmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Kinderliedchen", WoO. 6 (1902) [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , no title
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Peter Donderwinkel , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 152
The fields are reaped, the wind blows over the stubble,
High up in the breezes my kite now hovers,
Its ribs are of wood, its body of paper,
Two ears and a little tail are its sole adornment;
And I think to myself: to float on it thus
In the sunbeams,
Ah, if one could only do that
Just once!
I would peek into the summer nest of the stork:
Good morning, Mrs. Stork, shall you soon be on your way [southward]?
I would peek into the houses through the chimney:
[Little Papa, little Mama]2, how small you are!
Far below me I would see
River, hill and valley --
Ah, if one could only do that
Just once!
And above, lifted up, upon a dizzying path,
I would touch the clouds, the sailing clouds;
I would receive visits from swallows and crows,
And I would be able to see the singing larks,
I would eavesdrop on the angels
In the heavenly halls --
Ah, if one could only do that
Just once!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Ach, wer das doch könnte" = "Ah, to be able to do that"
"Kinderliedchen" = "Children’s song"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Victor August Eberhard Blüthgen (1844 - 1920), "Ach, wer das doch könnte"
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 173