Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Es kehrt die dunkle Schwalbe Aus fernem Land zurück, Die frommen Störche kehren Und bringen neues Glück. An diesem Frühlingsmorgen, So trüb' verhängt und warm, Ist mir, als fänd' ich wieder Den alten Liebesharm. Es ist als ob mich leise Wer auf die Schulter schlug, Als ob ich säuseln hörte, Wie einer Taube Flug. Es klopft an meine Türe, Und ist doch niemand draus; Ich atme Jasmindüfte, Und habe keinen Strauß. Es ruft mir aus der Ferne, Ein Auge sieht mich an, Ein alter Traum erfaßt mich Und führt mich seine Bahn.
Authorship
- by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872), "Alte Liebe", appears in Vermischte Gedichte, first published 1869 [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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Alte Liebe", op. 72 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 1 (1876), published 1877 [voice and piano], Berlin, Simrock [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "Old love", copyright ©
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , title 1: "Antico amore", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "Ancien amour", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , title 1: "Oude liefde", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
Dark swallows are returning From a distant land; The docile storks are returning And delivering new happiness. On this spring morning, So darkly dull and warm, It seems to me I've found again The grief of old love. It is as if somebody Tapped me gently on the shoulder, As if I heard a rustling sound, Like the flight of a dove. At my door comes a knocking sound, And yet no one is out there; I'm breathing in the scent of jasmine And have no bouquet. Someone calls to me from far away, An eye watches me, An old dream catches me And drives me down its path.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872), "Alte Liebe", appears in Vermischte Gedichte, first published 1869
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-16
Line count: 20
Word count: 109