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[Sel'ge]1 Lust, am frühen Tag Tief im Waldesgrund zu lauschen! Nah und fern das süße Rauschen, Waldesduft und Amselschlag! Wald, du grüner Freudensaal, Sei gegrüßt viel tausendmal! Was ich drauß' verloren hab', Giebst du tausendfältig wieder; Frischen Muth und neue Lieder Rauscht mir jeder Zweig herab. Wald, du grüner Freudensaal, Sei gegrüßt viel tausendmal! Lieber Wald, nimm's freundlich an, Daß ich dir von Herzen danke. Ob auch alles weich' und wanke, Treu bleibt dir der Sängersmann. Wald, du grüner Freudensaal, Sei gegrüßt viel tausendmal!
Confirmed with Gedichte von Carl Gärtner, Breslau: Verlag von F.E.C. Leuckart (Constantin Sander), 1862, pages 30-31.
1 Kamm: "Welche"Text Authorship:
- sometimes misattributed to Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
- by Carl Gärtner (1821 - 1875), "Waldlied", appears in Gedichte, in Lieder [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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Waldlied", op. 85 no. 4, published 1884 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], from Ein Sängertag. Ein Cyclus von 13 Gesängen, für vier Männerstimmen, no. 4, Schleusingen: Glaser [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "Waldlied", op. 45 (Liedersaal für Frauenchor. 90 drei- und vierstimmige Lieder für Schule, Haus und Verein) no. 18, published 1896 [ ssa chorus ], Zürich & Leipzig: Hug [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Forest song", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2022-02-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 85
[Blissful]1 joy, in the early morning To listen in the depths of the forest! Far and near the sweet soughing, Forest scent and blackbird call! Forest, you green hall of gladness, Be greeted many thousand times! What I lost outside [your realm], You return to me a thousandfold; Fresh courage and new songs Are soughed down to me by every branch. Forest, you green hall of gladness, Be greeted many thousand times! Dear forest, accept it happily That I thank you with all my heart. Though everything should give way and totter, [Your] singer shall remain true to you. Forest, you green hall of gladness, Be greeted many thousand times!
1 Kamm: "What"
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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) misattributed to Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876) and by Carl Gärtner (1821 - 1875), "Waldlied", appears in Gedichte, in Lieder
This text was added to the website: 2026-10-24
Line count: 18
Word count: 111