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Der Winter hat mit kalter Hand Die Pappel abgelaubt, Und hat das grüne Maigewand Der armen Flur geraubt; Hat Blümchen, blau und rot und weiß, Begraben unter Schnee und Eis. Doch, liebe Blümchen, hoffet nicht Von mir ein Sterbelied. Ich weiß ein holdes Angesicht, Wo Schönheit euch erzieht. Blau ist des Augensternes Rund, Die Stirne weiß, und roth der Mund. Was kümmert Amsel mich in Thal, Was Nachtigall im Hain? Denn Molly trillert hundertmal So hell und silberrein; Ihr Athem ist wie Frühlingsluft, Erfüllt mit Hyacinthenduft. Wann mich ihr Purpurmund begabt, Ach, welch ein Wohlgenuß! Die Erdbeer' und die Kirsche labt Nicht süßer, als ihr Kuß. -- O Mai, was frag' ich viel nach dir? Der Frühling lebt und webt in ihr.
Confirmed with Bürger’s sämmtliche Werke, herausgegeben von August Wilhelm Bohtz, Göttingen: Verlag der Dieterichschen Buchhandlung, 1835, page 13. Note: we have added a missing question mark to stanza 4, line 5.
Text Authorship:
- by Gottfried August Bürger (1747 - 1794), "Winterlied" [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 Moritz Peuschel , "Winterlied", op. 66 (Lieder-Album. 8 Lieder für Basstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1893 [ bass and piano ], Leipzig, Eulenburg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1747 - 1800), "Winterlied", published 1782-90 [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Friedrich Hegar.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2021, (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: 2004-05-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 122
With a cold hand, winter has Stripped the poplar of its foliage, And has robbed the poor meadow Of its green garb of May; Has buried blue and red and white flower Under snow and ice. But, little flowers, do not hope for A dirge from me. I know a lovely face [Where beauty nurtures you]1. Blue surrounds the pupil of her eyes, Her brow is white, and red her lips . [ What do I care about the blackbird in the valley, The nightingale in the grove? For Molly trills a hundred times More brightly and silver-pure]2; Her breath is like a spring breeze, Full of the scent of hyacinths. [ When her crimson lips bequeath me with a kiss, Ah, what blissful pleasure! The strawberry and the cherry do not Provide sweeter refreshment than her kiss. -- Oh May, what do I care about you?]3 Spring lives and has its being in her.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"Was kümmert mich die Nachtigall" = "Of what concern to me is the nightingale"
"Winterlied" = "Winter song"
2 Variant of text (see page 118 of book above):
What do I care about the nightingale In the blossoming grove? My darling trills a hundred times So sweetly and full of silver tones3 Variant of text (see page 118 of book above):
Plenteous, and rich in spicy aromas And utterly refreshing is, Like the crimson-red strawberry, The kiss, with which she kisses me. Oh May, what do I care about you?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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 Gottfried August Bürger (1747 - 1794), "Winterlied"
This text was added to the website: 2021-03-16
Line count: 24
Word count: 159