by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Luftschloss
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Mein Liebchen, ich hab' mir ein [Schlösslein]1 gebaut,
Drin wollen wir hausen zu zwei'n.
So luftig und lustig ward keins noch geschaut 
An Tiber und Donau und Rhein.

Krystall sind die Wände, das Dach ist Rubin,
Von Golde gebaut ist der Saal.
Ein Tischelein Deckdich steht mitten darin 
Und lädt uns zum fröhlichen Mahl.

Es springen zwei Bronnen aus Marmelgestein, 
Die rauschen uns frühe und spat.
Es giebt uns der eine Burgunderwein,
Der andere sprudelt Muskat.

Es stehen die Truhen mit edlem Geschmeid 
In allen Gemächern umher,
Und wolltest du schöpfen in Ewigkeit,
Sie würden doch nimmermehr leer.

Und rings um das Schlösslein ein grünender Hag 
Mit Blumen von seltsamer Pracht.
Sie duften wie fremdes Gewürze bei Tag 
Und leuchten wie Sterne bei Nacht.

Es weht in den Lüften wie Harfenschall
Und lockender Vogelein Ruf.
Zwölf muthige Rösslein wiehern im Stall 
Und scharren mit goldenem Huf.

Das ist mein Schlösslein. Ich hab' es gemacht,
Wie der Sänger sich macht ein Gedicht.
Im Traume hab' ich mir's ausgedacht
Und träumend zusammengericht't.

Es schimmert und blinkt aus der Höhe herab
Sein luftiges Wundergestein,
Und wenn ich das Fliegen erfunden noch hab',
Mein Liebchen, dann ziehen wir ein.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Spielmannslieder von Rudolf Baumbach, Leipzig, Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, pages 80-81.

1 Hofft, Reinecke, Rommel: "Schlösschen"; further changes may exist not shown above.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Castle in the air", copyright © 2022, (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: 2013-12-09
Line count: 32
Word count: 196

Castle in the air
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
My darling, I have built myself a castle in the air,
In it we shall dwell as a couple.
Not another so airy and amusing has ever been seen
Along the Tiber and the Danube and the Rhine.

The walls are of crystal, the roof of rubies,
The great hall is built of gold.
A table that is magically laden with food stands in the middle of it
And invites us to a merry meal.

Two marble fountains play,
We hear their sound early and late.
One of them provides us with Burgundy,
From the other bubbles forth Muscat.

Chests filled with precious jewelry
Are standing about in all the rooms,
And if you were to draw forth adornments forever
They would still never grow empty.

And round about the castle is a green grove
With flowers of strange splendour.
By day they emit a scent like foreign spices
And by night they glow like stars.

In the breezes there wafts a sound as of harps
And enticing bird-calls.
Twelve brave little horses neigh in the stable
And paw the ground with golden hooves.

That is my castle. I have created it
Like the poet creates a poem for himself.
I thought it all out in a dream
And put it together as I dreamt.

Its wondrous airy stones shimmer
And sparkle down from the heights,
And once I have discovered how to fly,
My darling, then we shall move in.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2022-03-31
Line count: 32
Word count: 241