A bird dwells in the foliage | A bird dwells in the foliage

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by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube,
Das goldne Eier legt
Und eine goldne Haube
Auf seinem Scheitel trägt.
Die Eilein möcht' ich finden,
Auf eine Schnur sie reih'n
Und um den Nacken binden
Der lieben Trauten mein.

Ein Rabe sitzt im Dunkeln
Versteckt im tiefsten Forst.
Ein Ringlein mit Karfunkeln
Verbirgt sein Tannenhorst.
Will keiner den Baum mir sagen,
Wo ich das Kleinod find'?
Am Finger sollt' es tragen
Das allerschönste Kind.

Zwölf bunte Enten gleiten
Über des Weihers Fluth,
Darein seit alten Zeiten
Eine goldne Krone ruht.
Tragt Enten auf dem Rücken
Die Krone vor mich hin!
Ihr Zackenreif soll schmücken
Meine junge Königin.

Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Fünfundzwanzigstes Tausend, Leipzig: Verlag von A.G. Liebeskind, 1890, pages 117-118.

Text Authorship:

by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen [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 Adolf Arensen (b. 1855), "Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube", op. 5 no. 1, published 1893 [ ttbb chorus ], Stuttgart: Zumsteeg [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Erlanger (1842 - 1908), "Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube", op. 40 (Zwölf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 11, published 1881 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Schiller (flourished 1861-1885), "Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube", op. 32 (Drei Lieder für hohe Stimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1885 [ high voice and piano ], Koburg, Schiller [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "A bird dwells in the foliage", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

This text was added to the website: 2011-04-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 104

A bird dwells in the foliage

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

A bird dwells in the foliage,
A bird that lays golden eggs
And wears a golden bonnet
Upon its head.
I would like to find those little eggs,
String them upon a thread
And tie them about the neck
Of my dear beloved.

A raven sits in the dark,
Hidden in the deepest forest.
His fir-eyrie conceals
A little ring with carbuncles on it.
Is no one willing to show me the tree
Where I can find this treasure?
It should be worn upon the finger
Of the loveliest child.

Twelve colourful ducks glide
Over the waters of the weir,
In which since olden times
A golden crown lies.
Ducks, carry upon your backs
The crown and place it before me!
The pronged circle shall adorn
My young queen.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Ein Vöglein wohnt im Laube", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2022-02-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 129