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Wenn ich nur ein Vöglein wäre, Ach wie wollt' ich lustig fliegen, Alle Vögel weit besiegen. Wenn ich so ein Vogel bin, Darf ich alles alles haschen, Und die höchsten Kirschen naschen, Fliege dann zur Mutter hin. Ist sie bös' in ihrem Sinn, Kann ich lieb mich an sie schmiegen, Ihren Ernst gar bald besiegen. Bunte Federn, leichte Flügel, Dürft' ich in der Sonne schwingen, Daß die Lüfte laut erklingen, Weiß nichts mehr von Band und Zügel. Wär ich über jene Hügel, Ach dann wollt' ich lustig fliegen, Alle Vögel weit besiegen.
Confirmed with Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1802. Herausgegeben von A. W. Schlegel und L. Tieck. Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1802, page 136; and with Friedrich Schlegel's sämmtliche Werke. Erster Band. Gedichte. Berlin, bei Julius Eduard Hitzig, 1809, page 15.
Authorship
- by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Der Knabe", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 4, first published 1802 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Der Knabe", D 692 (1820?), published 1872 [ voice, piano ], J. P. Gotthard, VN 346, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Der Knabe", op. 33 no. 3 [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El noi", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De jongen", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The boy", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le garçon", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Il fanciullo", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 92
Si seulement j'étais un oiseau, Ah, comme je volerais joyeusement, Comme je surpasserais tous les oiseaux. Si j'étais un tel oiseau, Je pourrais attraper tout, tout, Et je grignoterais les plus hautes cerises ; Puis je volerais vers la mère. Si elle était de mauvaise humeur, Je pourrais me blottir contre elle tendrement Et bientôt vaincre sa sévérité. Plumes colorées, ailes légères, Je pourrais vous agiter au soleil, Pour que l'air résonne fort. Je ne connaîtrais plus de liens ni de freins. Si j'étais au-dessus de cette colline, Ah, alors je volerais joyeusement, Et je surpasserais tous les oiseaux.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2011 by Guy Laffaille, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Der Knabe", appears in Abendröte, in Erster Teil, no. 4, first published 1802
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-22
Line count: 17
Word count: 99