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Was kümmert's mich, ob trüb und grau Die Wolken niederhangen, Und alle Pracht der Himmelsau Für immer scheint vergangen! Was kümmert's mich! Ich wandre zu, Ich wandre zu in heitrer Ruh, Und laß mich's nicht grämen, noch schmerzen! Die Liebe voll Wonne, Die freundlichste Sonne, Die Liebe lacht mir im Herzen! Was kümmert's mich, ob trauern auch Die Fluren aller Enden, Kein Blümlein wagt, den süßen Hauch Vor Sturm und Frost zu spenden! Was kümmert's mich! Ich träume zu, Ich träume zu in heitrer Ruh, Und laß mich's nicht grämen, noch schmerzen! Die Liebe mit Schimmern Und Duften und Flimmern, Die Liebe blüht mir im Herzen! Was kümmert's mich, ob rings der Traum Des Frühlings schon zerstoben, Kein Vöglein, ach! vom Blüthenbaum Den armen Lenz mag loben! Was kümmert's mich! Ich singe zu, Ich singe zu in heitrer Ruh, Und laß mich's nicht grämen, noch schmerzen! Die Liebe wie Glocken, Mit lautem Frohlocken, Die Liebe klingt mir im Herzen!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 198-199.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Was kümmert's mich!", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 225 [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), "Was kümmert's mich", op. 285 (3 Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1865 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Klemm [sung text not yet checked]
- by Valentin Eduard Becker (1814 - 1890), "Was kümmert's mich", op. 47 (Drei Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 2 [ four-part men's chorus, unaccompanied ], Leipzig: Rob. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Carl Franz) Edmund Kretschmer (1830 - 1908), "Was kümmerts mich", op. 1 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Dresden, Brauer [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudolf Löw-Burckhardt (1832 - 1898), "Was kümmert's mich, ob trüb' und grau", op. 1 no. 7, published 1867 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Lieder der Liebe von Friedrich Oser für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 7, Zürich: Gebrüder Hug [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-20
Line count: 30
Word count: 160
What do I care if the clouds Are lowering, dreary and grey, And all the splendour of the sky's meadow Seem to be shrouded forever! What do I care! I wander on, I wander on in cheerful peace, And I let it neither grieve nor pain me! Love, full of bliss, The most amiable sun, Love laughs within my heart! What do I care if all the meadows Everywhere are mourning, No little flower dares to offer its sweet breath Because of the storm and frost! What do I care! I go on dreaming, I go on dreaming in cheerful peace And let it neither trouble nor pain me! Love with shimmering And scents and sparkling, Love blooms within my heart! What do I care if round about me The dream of springtime has already dissipated, No birdlet, alas! from the blossoming tree May praise poor springtime! What do I dare! I sing on, I sing on in cheerful peace, And let it neither trouble nor pain me! For love like bells, With loud rejoicing, Love resounds in my heart!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Was kümmerts mich" = "What do I care"
"Was kümmert's mich, ob trüb' und grau" = "What do I care if dreary and grey"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Was kümmert's mich!", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 225
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-23
Line count: 30
Word count: 181