by Rudolf Alexander Schröder (1878 - 1962)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ich hör dich noch nicht
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Dutch (Nederlands) 
Our translations:  ENG
Ich hör dich noch nicht,
O Nachtigall, und
Die Ostersonn sitzt
  Im Osten.
Wo bleibst du so lang,
Oder hast du vielleicht
Vergessen, mein Herz
  Zu getrosten?

Noch sommert's, fürwahr,
Noch läubt's nicht und mag
Kein Blatt aus den Hagen
  Verlocken;
Sitzt Eis in dem Wind,
Sitzt Schnee in der Luft,
Will stürmen und stieben
  Und flocken.

Doch spreet es und finkt
Lauthalsig zumal;
Die Amsel, sie kichert
  Und schwätzelt,
Es kuckuckt und meist,
Es trillert im Holz,
Es schwäbelt und zeiset
  Und spätzelt.

Wo bleibt sie so lang
Die Nachtigall und
Vergißt mein Herz zu
  Getrosten?
Und es sommert noch nicht;
Doch sommert es bald:
Die Ostersonn sitzt
  Im Osten.

About the headline (FAQ)

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Rudolf Alexander Schröder, Gesammelte Werke in Fünf Bänden, Erster Band, Die Gedichte, Berlin und Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1952, pages 635-636.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

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) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2022-01-19
Line count: 32
Word count: 111

I do not yet hear you
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I do not yet hear you,
Oh nightingale, and 
The Easter sun is situated
  In the east.
Where are you tarrying so long,
Or have you perhaps
Forgotten to comfort
  My heart?

It is truly still summery,
No leaves are falling yet and
It is not possible to entice a leaf
  From the groves;
There is ice in the wind,
There is snow in the air,
It wishes to storm and blow
  And snow.

Yet starling and finch
Sing loudly together;
The blackbird, it giggles
  And chatters,
There are cuckoos and chickadees,
A trilling in the woods,
The sounds of swallows and siskins
  And sparrows.

Where does it tarry so long,
The nightingale, and
Forgets to comfort
  My heart?
And it is not yet summer;
But shall soon be summer:
The Easter sun is situated
  In the east.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Ich hör dich noch nicht" = "I do not yet hear you"
"Ich hör dich noch nicht, o Nachtigall" = "I do not yet hear you, oh nightingale"

Translator's note to the third stanza: Schroeder makes the various birds into verbs; the attempt to do that in English yields some impossible results (e.g., swallowing, starlinging, etc.).


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2024-05-16
Line count: 32
Word count: 138