Ach! mein kühler Wasserquell!
Ach! meine Rose, rosenroth!
Was doch blühtest so früh du auf,
Sollt' ich dich brechen, o Rose mein?
Habe keinen, dem ich [dich gäb']1!
Pflückt' ich dich für mein Mütterlein:
Mütterlein ruht im Grabe tief!
Bräch' ich dich für die Schwester gern:
Schwester gieng mit dem fremden Gemahl!
Bräch' ich dich für den Bruder wohl:
Fort in den Krieg der Bruder zog!
Bräch' ich dich, ach! für meinen Freund:
Ach! der Freund ist weit und fern!
Über drei grüne Gebirge, weit!
Über drei kühle Gewässer, breit!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• C. Loewe View original text (without footnotes)
1 Loewe: "gäbe dich!"
Text Authorship:
Based on:
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) , "The maiden and the rose", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La jeune fille et la rose", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2005-07-28
Line count: 15
Word count: 91
Ah! my cool waterspring!
Ah! my rose, rosy-red!
Why did you bloom forth so prematurely,
Should I pick you, oh rose of mine?
I have no one to whom I could give you!
If I picked you for my mother:
My mother rests deep in her grave!
If I broke you gladly for my sister:
My sister has departed with her foreign spouse!
If I broke you for my brother:
My brother has gone forth into battle!
If I broke you, ah! for my beloved:
Ah! my beloved is far and distant!
Beyond three green mountain ranges, far away!
Beyond three cool wide waters!
