by
Günther Walling (1839 - 1896)
Sieh, wie sich die Vögel schwenken
Language: German (Deutsch)
Sieh, wie sich die Vögel schwenken
Lustig in den Lüften dort,
Heimwärts ihren Zug sie lenken,
Lebe wohl, ich muß nun fort.
Siehst mich scheiden ohne Zähren,
Ach, der Sommer ist vorbei;
Liebe kann nicht ewig währen,
Und noch kürzer währt die Treu.
Kehre ich nach Jahren wieder,
Wenn vergeßner Sang erklingt,
So ist's eines meiner Lieder,
Das empor zu Dir sich schwingt.
Leise pocht's an Deine Thüre,
Mahnt Dich nicht an alte Zeit,
Nicht an längst verwehte Schwüre,
Grüßt Dich nur voll Zärtlichkeit.
Blicke freundlich dann hernieder
So wie ehmals vom Balkon,
Wenig fordert, der vorüber
Zieht, für seinen Sang als Lohn.
Ob des Herbstes Sturmwind tose,
Oder Lenzhauch küßt die Flur:
Eine halberblühte Rose,
Und ein flüchtig Lächeln nur.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Günther Walling (Carl Ulrici), Von Lenz zu Herbst. Dichtungen, Zweite vielfach veränderte Auflage, Leipzig und Berlin: Verlag von Wilhelm Friedrich, 1887, pages 24-25.
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):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "See how the birds dart about", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2020-06-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 121
See how the birds dart about
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
See how the birds dart about
Merrily in the breezes there,
They turn their flight homewards,
Farewell, I must now be off.
You see me departing without tears,
Ah, summer is past;
Love cannot last forever,
And faithfulness lasts even less long.
When I return after a span of years,
When forgotten singing sounds [once more],
Then it shall be one of my songs
That rises up to you.
Quietly [the song] shall knock upon your door,
It shall not remind you of olden times,
Not of long-gone vows;
It shall only greet you full of tenderness.
Gaze down amicably then
As you once did from the balcony;
He who travels pasts, asks for
Little in recompense for his singing.
Whether the storm-wind of autumn rages,
Or a springtime breeze kisses the meadow:
[Reward me with] only a half-open rose
And a fleeting smile.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2020-06-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 144