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I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing, Gaily in the sunny beam; [Tho']1 to the wild birds singing, By a falling crystal stream. [Staight]2 the sky grew black and daring, While through the woods the whirlwinds rave, The trees with aged arms were warring, Across the swelling drumlie wave. Such was my life's deceitful morning, Such the pleasures I enjoy'd; But long ere noon loud tempest storming, All my flow'ry bliss destroy'd. [Tho']3 fickle fortune has deceiv'd me, [She promised]4 fair, and perform'd but ill, Of many a joy and hope bereav'd me, I bear a heart shall support me still.
Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, page 448.
Glossary
Drumlie = muddy
2 Beethoven : "At once"
3 Beethoven : "Though"
4 Beethoven : "Promised"
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing" [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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing", WoO. 153 (20 Irische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 5, G. 224 no. 5, published 1814/6 [ vocal duet with piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Joseph Haydn, Humphrey Procter-Gregg.
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Albert Hermann Dietrich.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Já snil, že mezi květinami"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je rêvais que j'étais allongé là où les fleurs sortaient", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Mir träumt' ich lag wo die Blumen springen"
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
Je rêvais que j'étais allongé là où les fleurs sortaient, Joyeux sous les rayons du soleil ; J'écoutais chanter les oiseaux sauvages Auprès d'un ruisseau de cristal : Soudain le ciel devint noir et terrifiant ; Tandis qu'une tornade se déchaînait dans les bois, Les arbres aux vieux bras se débattaient Au milieu d'un flot montant et boueux. Ainsi était le matin trompeur de ma vie, Ainsi les plaisirs que j'appréciais ; Mais bien avant midi la bruyante tempête Détruisit tout mon bonheur en fleur. Bien qu'un inconstant destin m'ait trompé, Me promît d'être propice, s'avérât néfaste, Me privât de maintes joies et espérances, Je porte un cœur qui me soutient encore.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to French (Français) copyright © 2019 by Pierre Mathé, (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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Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing"
This text was added to the website: 2019-04-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 108