Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Die Fenster klär' ich zum Feiertag, Daß sich die Sonn' drin spiegeln mag, Und klär' und denke gar mancherlei. Da geht er stolz vorbei! So sehr muss ich da erschrocken sein, Daß ich gleich brach in die Scheiben hinein, Und gleich auch kam das Blut gerannt Rot über meine Hand. Und mag sie auch bluten, meine Hand, Und mag mich auch schmerzen der böse Brand, Hast einen Blick doch herauf geschickt, Als laut das Glas geknickt. Und in die Augen dir hab' ich gesehn; Ach Gott, wie lang ist es nicht geschehn! Hast mich ja nicht einmal angeblickt, Als leis mein Herz geknickt!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Titus Ulrich (1813 - 1891) [author's text not yet checked 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 (Friedrich) August Bungert (1845 - 1915), "Die Fenster klär' ich", op. 49 no. 45, published 1894 [ voice and piano ], from Neue Volkslieder nach alten und neuen Gedichte und Handwerker-Lieder, no. 45, Leipzig, Leede [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Fensterscheibe", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 2 (1851), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jules de Swert (1843 - 1891), "Die Fenster klär' ich zum Feiertag", op. 31 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1876 [ voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De vensterruit", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Uri Liebrecht) , "The window pane", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The windowpane", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le carreau de la fenêtre", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 103
I clean the windows for the holiday, That the sun might reflect itself therein, And I clean and think of many things. At that moment he walks proudly past! I must have been so mightily startled That I immediately broke through the windowpane, And immediately too my blood welled forth, Red over my hand. And even if it bleeds, my hand, And even if the burning pain hurts me, It did cause you to look up, When the glass cracked loudly. And I looked into your eyes; Ah God, how long had that not happened! For you did not even look at me, When my heart quietly broke!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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:
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Titus Ulrich (1813 - 1891)
This text was added to the website: 2013-07-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 108