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 licenses@email.lieder.example.net
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.
Wie schön, wie schön willst du dich schmücken, Mein liebes Thal, so spät im Jahr! Mit holdem Grün mich noch beglücken, Mit zarten Frühlingsblumen gar! Ich ahn' es wohl: so schön, mein Thal, Bist heuer du das letzte Mal! Vergessne Lieder singet wieder Vom rothen Baum ein Vögelein, Und, o! wie schickt die Sonne nieder Vom Himmel ihren klarsten Schein! Nicht lächelte so mild ihr Strahl, Wär's heuer nicht das letzte Mal! So lau und lieblich wehn die Winde, Und alte Träume werden wach, Doch sieh, wie sinket von der Linde Dort Blatt um Blatt mit leisem Ach! Wie bald, wie bald ist Alles kahl, Doch schön ist's noch das letzte Mal! Fort träum' ich, fort die schönen Träume, Mein Thal, mit dir, und trau' auf Gott, Rast auch der Sturm durch alle Bäume, Nicht wird mein froher Muth zu Spott! Fort sing' ich bei des Winters Qual: Wie schön war's doch das letzte Mal!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 125-126.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Im Spätherbst", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 142 [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 Eugen Karl Petzold (1813 - 1889), "Im Spätherbst", op. 27 (Sechs vierstimmige Lieder aus der Natur für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 3, published 1871 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: Fr. Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudolf Eduard Thiele (1812 - 1895), "Im Spätherbst", op. 20, Heft 2 no. 4, published 1894 [ satb chorus ], Dessau: Baumann [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "In late autumn", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 155
How beautifully, how beautifully you wish to adorn yourself, My dear valley, so late in the year! Still to gladden [my heart] with lovely green, Even with delicate springtime flowers! I sense it: so beautiful, my valley, You are for the last time this year! Down from the red tree a birdlet Sings forgotten songs again, And, oh! how the sun sends down Its clearest radiance from the sky! Its mild beam would not smile so mildly, If it were not for the last time this year! So balmily and beautifully the winds blow, And old dreams waken, But see, how from the linden tree yonder Leaf upon leaf falls with a quiet “alas”! How soon, how soon everything shall be bare, But it is beautiful yet this last time! I dream on, [dream] on the lovely dreams With you, my valley, and trust in God, Though the storm tears through all the trees, My joyful spirit shall not ridiculed! I shall sing on in the misery of winter: How beautiful it was that last time!
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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Im Spätherbst", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 142
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 176