Wach auf, meins Herzens Schöne
Herzallerliebste mein!
Ich hör ein süß Getöne
von kleinen Waldvöglein;
die hör ich so lieblich singen,
ich mein, ich säh des Tages Schein
vom Orient her dringen.

Ich hör die Hahnen krähen
und spür den Tag dabei,
die kühlen Windlein wehen
die Sternlein leuchten frei.
Singt uns Frau Nachtigalle,
singt uns ein süße Melodei,
sie meldt den Tag mit Schalle.

Der Himmel tut sich färben,
aus weißer Farb in Blau,
die Wolken tun sich färben
aus schwarzer Farb in grau;
die Morgenröt tut entweichen;
wach auf, mein Lieb, und mach mich frei,
der Tag will uns verschleichen.

Selig [sei]2 Tag und Stunde,
darin du bist geborn!
Gott grüß mir dein rot Munde,
den ich mir [auserkorn]3.
Kann mir kein Lieb're [nie werden]4,
schau, daß mein [Lieb]5 nicht sei verlorn,
du bist mein Trost auf Erden.

J. Brahms sets stanzas 1-2, 4 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information

About the headline (FAQ)

View text without footnotes
¹ Brahms, WoO. 35 no. 2: "hör"
² Brahms, WoO. 35 no. 2: "ist"
³ Brahms, WoO. 35 no. 2: "hab erkorn"
⁴ Brahms, WoO. 35 no. 7 [note]: "werden"
⁵ Brahms, WoO. 35 no. 7 [note]: "Glück"

The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is based on

• a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Meins Herzens Schöne", written c1544
  • Go to the text page.

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

• by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Ständchen", WoO. posth. 37 no. 16 (1859-62) [ SSAA chorus ], from 16 Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 16 [sung text not yet checked]
• by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Wach auf!", WoO. posth. 35 no. 2 (1863/4) [ SATB chorus ], from Deutsche Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
• by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Wach auf!", WoO. posth. 35 no. 7 (1863/4?), stanzas 1-2,4 [ SATB chorus ], from Deutsche Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, no. 7 [sung text checked 1 time]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

• Also set in German (Deutsch), [adaptation] ; composed by Johannes Brahms.
  • Go to the text.
    

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

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Réveille-toi, belle de mon cœur", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2004-06-25
Line count: 28
Word count: 146

Wake up, beautiful one of my heart,
My most beloved!
I hear a sweet sound
From the little birds of the forest;
They sing so beautifully,
It’s as if I could see daylight
Beaming from the East.

I hear the roosters crowing
To rouse the day,
Light breezes blow cool
Tiny stars sparkle clearly.
Mrs. Nightingale sings to us,
She sings us a sweet melody,
She announces the day with her call.

The heavens are changing color,
From white to blue,
The clouds are changing color,
From black to gray;
The red of morning is fleeing;
Wake up, my love, and set me free,
Or the day will sneak away.

Blessed are the day and hour
That you were born!
May God bless your red lips (mouth),
Which I have chosen to be my mine.
There can neven be anyone dearer to me,
Come see, so that my love isn’t squandered,
You are my delight on Earth.