I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing, Gaily in the sunny beam; [Tho']1 to the wild birds singing, By a falling crystal stream. [Staight]2 the sky grew black and daring, While through the woods the whirlwinds rave, The trees with aged arms were warring, Across the swelling drumlie wave. Such was my life's deceitful morning, Such the pleasures I enjoy'd; But long ere noon loud tempest storming, All my flow'ry bliss destroy'd. [Tho']3 fickle fortune has deceiv'd me, [She promised]4 fair, and perform'd but ill, Of many a joy and hope bereav'd me, I bear a heart shall support me still.
Confirmed with Robert Burns, The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1919, page 448.
Glossary
Drumlie = muddy
2 Beethoven : "At once"
3 Beethoven : "Though"
4 Beethoven : "Promised"
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing" [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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing", WoO. 153 (20 Irische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 5, G. 224 no. 5, published 1814/6 [ vocal duet with piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Joseph Haydn, Humphrey Procter-Gregg.
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Albert Hermann Dietrich.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Já snil, že mezi květinami"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je rêvais que j'étais allongé là où les fleurs sortaient", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Mir träumt' ich lag wo die Blumen springen"
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 106
Já snil, že mezi květinami jsem ležel v slunci zářivém, zpěv ptačí zvučel huštinami při vodopádu perlivém. Tu zatmělo se nebe rázem a vítr zaleh’ v doubravu a větve stromů smetal na zem a dmul vod kalných záplavu. To bylo mého žití ráno, to radosti, jež dal mi svět; však před polednem dávno zdráno vše krutou bouří, list a květ. Ač doleh' osud na mé plece a sta mi přines' úkorů a naděj' vzal i radost, — přece mám v silném srdci podporu.
Confirmed with BURNS, Robert. Výbor z písní a ballad, translated by Josef Václav Sládek, Praha: J. Otto, 1892.
Text Authorship:
- by Josef Václav Sládek (1845 - 1912), "Já snil, že mezi květinami" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "I dream'd I lay where flow'rs were springing"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2019-08-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 83