Transmigration of souls | When that which shines

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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Seelenwanderung

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

  Wenn, was mir strahlt
Aus deinem Augenlichte, 
Getreu im Lied ich nachgemalt, 
  O sag, ist meine Seel' in dem Gedichte
Entschwebet mir?
  Kehrt deine wohl, mein Lieb, zurück zu dir?

  Wenn hold beschwingt
Mein Lied mir im Gesange
Aus deinem Mund entgegenklingt,
  O sag, kehrt meine Seele mit dem Klange 
Zurück zu mir?
  Ist deine wohl, mein Lieb, entschwebet dir?

  Wenn du beglückt
Mir dankst für meine Lieder,
Wenn mich dein heller Sang entzückt,
  O sag, o sag, ist meine Seele wieder
Entschwebet mir?
  Kehrt deine wohl, mein Lieb, zurück zu dir?

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 214.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Seelenwanderung", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 242 [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 Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-01-30
Line count: 18
Word count: 93

Transmigration of souls

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

  When that which shines
From out of your eyes
I have faithfully depicted in a song,
  Oh tell me, has my soul wafted forth
And entered the poem?
  Does yours, my love, return to you?

  When, beautifully animated,
My song sung by you 
Rings out toward me,
  Oh tell me, does my soul return to me
With the sounds?
  Has yours perhaps, my love, wafted forth from you?

  When, delighted, you 
Thank me for my songs,
When your bright singing enchants me,
  Oh tell, oh tell me, has my soul 
Again wafted forth?
  Does yours, my love, return to you?

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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), "Seelenwanderung", appears in Liederbuch, in 2. Liebeslieder, no. 242
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-05-13
Line count: 18
Word count: 101