Oh, May has come in a heavenly, heavenly manner

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by Gustav Eberlein (1847 - 1926)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

O, himmlisch, himmlisch ist der Mai...

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

O, himmlisch, himmlisch ist der Mai gekommen,
In Herrlichkeit und Blüthenduft,
Die Wolken scheinen silbern hergeschwommen,
O, himmlisch, himmlisch ist der Mai gekommen,
Und Lenzesjubel füllt die milde Luft.

O, unbegreiflich wunderliches Sehnen
Durchzieht mit seinem Hauch die Menschbrust!
Es lacht das Auge und es ringt mit Thränen,
O, unbegreiflich wunderliches Sehnen
Kommt über uns in holder Maienlust.

O, süße Liebe klopft mit leisem Finger
An jedes Menschenherz, geh', sei kein Thor,
Und folge jubelnd diesem Allbezwinger,
O süße Liebe klopft mit leisem Finger
Und hebt uns in den schönsten Lenz empor.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Gustav Eberlein, Aus eines Bildners Seelenleben. Plastik, Malerei und Poesie, Stuttgart, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, [1892], page 24.

Text Authorship:

by Gustav Eberlein (1847 - 1926), "Mai" [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 Victor von Woikowsky-Biedau (1866 - 1935), "Der Mai ist da", op. 13 no. 1, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], from Frühlingslieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Berlin, Raabe & Plothow [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-05-05
Line count: 15
Word count: 92

Oh, May has come in a heavenly, heavenly...

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Oh, May has come in a heavenly, heavenly manner,
In splendour and the scent of blossoms,
The clouds seem as if they had drifted hither, edged with silver,
Oh, May has come in a heavenly, heavenly manner,
And spring rejoicing fills the soft air.

Oh, with its wafting, an incomprehensibly 
Wondrous yearning passes through [my] breast,
[My] eyes laugh and struggle with tears,
Oh, incomprehensibly wondrous yearning
Comes over us in the lovely joy of May.

Oh, with gentle fingers, sweet love knocks
Upon every human heart, go, do not be a fool,
And follow this all-conquering one with rejoicing,
Oh, sweet love knocks with gentle fingers
And lifts us up into the most beautiful springtime.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"Der Mai ist da" = "May is here"
"Mai" = "May"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Gustav Eberlein (1847 - 1926), "Mai"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-05-05
Line count: 15
Word count: 116