Song of the rider | The forest is black, the sky is bright

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by Oscar von Redwitz-Schmölz (1823 - 1891)

Translation © by Maggie Evans

Reiterlied

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE

Der Wald ist schwarz, die Luft ist klar, 
  Im Frühlicht glüht das Thal. 
Der Morgenduft netzt Bart und Haar, 
  Die Perle rinnt am Stahl. 
    Mein Rößlein fromm, 
    Mein Rößlein komm, 
  Wir reiten, wir reiten!

Du Vater und du Mutter mein, 
  Du Freundschaft allzumal!
Ihr dürft um mich nicht traurig sein, 
  'S ist einmal meine Wahl. 
    [Ich geb' mein Gut,
    Ich geb' mein Blut]¹ 
  Um's Reiten, um's Reiten.

Und reit' ich auch in frühen Tod,
  Ich bin ein Reitersmann!
Dem Alten thut die Stube Noth,
  Darin er siechen kann.
    Viel besser doch
    In's Sterben noch
  Zu reiten, zu reiten.

Bin gar ein stürmischer Gesell', 
  Der Reiter ist der Wind;
Und wo ein Röslein blüht zur Stell', 
  Da wird er warm und lind, 
    Küßt sein Gesicht, 
    Ob's will, ob nicht, 
  Im Reiten, im Reiten.

"Gehab' dich wohl, lieb Röselein,
  Hab' Dank für deinen Kuß ! 
Weil ich nun wieder Sturmwind sein, 
  Und Eichen fällen muß. 
    Mir läßt der Streit 
    Zur Lieb' nicht Zeit, 
  Muß reiten, muß reiten!"

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• C. Loewe

C. Loewe sets stanzas 1-2, 4-5

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Oscar v. Redwitz, Amaranth, Achte Auflage, Mainz: Verlag von Kirchheim und Schott, 1851, pages 43-44.

¹ Loewe: " Ich geb' mein Blut,/ Ich geb' mein Gut,"

Text Authorship:

by Oscar von Redwitz-Schmölz (1823 - 1891), "Reiterlied", appears in Amaranth [author's text checked 2 times 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 Gustav Bergmann (1837 - 1892), "Reiterlied", op. 2 (Drei Lieder für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1876 [ baritone and piano ], Breslau, Hainauer [sung text not yet checked]
by A. L. Boh , "Reiterlied", op. 22 (Zwölf Lieder aus Amaranth, von O. von Redwitz), Heft 3 no. 9, published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Braunschweig, Meyer [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Kremser (1838 - 1914), "Reiterlied", published 1892 [ ttbb chorus and ttbb quartet ], from Männerchöre und Quartette. A. Ohne Begleitung, no. 13, Leipzig: F.E.C. Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Reiterlied", op. 145 no. 5 (1859?), stanzas 1-2,4-5, from Liederkranz für die Bassstimme, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Reiterlied", op. 4 (Zwei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 2, published 1870 [ four-part men's chorus ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Schmidt (1839 - 1920), "Reiterlied", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder und Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1870 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Schnabel (1809 - 1881), "Reiterlied", op. 48 (2 Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1854 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
by Werner Schönen (1847 - 1920), "Reiterlied", published 1883 [ voice and piano ], from 25 Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 9, Paderborn, Schöningh [sung text not yet checked]
by Fritz Zieglwallner , "Reiterlied", published 1878 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Lieder aus: Amaranth, von Redwitz, für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 6, München, Schmid [sung text not yet checked]

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

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 35
Word count: 164

Song of the rider

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

The forest is black, the sky is bright,
  in Spring the valley gleams
The morning dew dampens beard and hair,
  and pearls run from the steel
    My brave little horse, 
    come o my little horse, 
  we'll ride out.

O my father, o my mother, 
  o all my friends!
Do not be sad for my sake, 
  this is the choice I have made.
    I'd give my blood, 
    I'd give my all, 
  to go out riding. 









I am a wild fellow, 
  the rider is the wind;
And wherever a little rose happens to be blooming,
  there it grows warm and sweet
    Kiss its face 
    whether it will or not,
  while riding.

Fare you well, sweet little rose, 
  and thank you for your kiss!
For I am once again the stormy wind 
  and must fell oaks
    I have no time 
    for love's quarrels, 
  I must ride on.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Maggie Evans, (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 Oscar von Redwitz-Schmölz (1823 - 1891), "Reiterlied", appears in Amaranth
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 144