Songs

Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!

by Gustav Mahler From Rückert-Lieder (1901) 1901-1902

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Text & Translation

Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!
Meine Augen schlag’ ich nieder,
Wie ertappt auf böser Tat.
Selber darf ich nicht getrauen,
Ihrem Wachsen zuzuschauen.
Deine Neugier ist Verrat!

Bienen, wenn sie Zellen bauen,
Lassen auch nicht zu sich schauen,
Schauen selbst auch nicht zu.
Wenn die reichen Honigwaben
Sie zu Tag gefördert haben,
Dann vor allen nasche du!

Do not look into my songs!
English translation © Richard Stokes

Do not look into my songs!
I lower my gaze,
As if caught in the act.
I dare not even trust myself
To watch them growing.
Your curiosity is treason.

Bees, when they build cells,
Let no one watch either,
And do not even watch themselves.
When the rich honeycombs
Have been brought to daylight,
You shall be the first to taste!

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Do not look into my songs!
English source: Richard Stokes

Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder!
Do not look into my songs!
Meine Augen schlag’ ich nieder,
I lower my gaze,
Wie ertappt auf böser Tat.
As if caught in the act.
Selber darf ich nicht getrauen,
I dare not even trust myself
Ihrem Wachsen zuzuschauen.
To watch them growing.
Deine Neugier ist Verrat!
Your curiosity is treason.

Bienen, wenn sie Zellen bauen,
Bees, when they build cells,
Lassen auch nicht zu sich schauen,
Let no one watch either,
Schauen selbst auch nicht zu.
And do not even watch themselves.
Wenn die reichen Honigwaben
When the rich honeycombs
Sie zu Tag gefördert haben,
Have been brought to daylight,
Dann vor allen nasche du!
You shall be the first to taste!

Composer

Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer and conductor. Read more about him here.

Poet

Friedrich Rückert

Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…

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