Das Mädchen spricht
German source:
Otto Friedrich Gruppe
Ist’s dein alter Mann,
Mit dem du’s Nest gebaut,
Oder hast du jüngst erst
Dich ihm vertraut?
Sag, was zwitschert ihr,
Sag, was flüstert ihr
Des Morgens so vertraut?
Gelt, du bist wohl auch noch
Nicht lange Braut?
The Girl Speaks
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Is it last year’s mate
You’ve built your nest with,
Or are you
But recently betrothed?
Say, what are you twittering,
Say, what are you whispering
So intimately in the morning?
Am I right, you haven’t long
Been married either?
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Das Mädchen spricht
German source:
Otto Friedrich Gruppe
The Girl Speaks
English source:
Richard Stokes
Schwalbe, sag mir an,
Tell me, swallow,
Ist’s dein alter Mann,
Is it last year’s mate
Mit dem du’s Nest gebaut,
You’ve built your nest with,
Oder hast du jüngst erst
Or are you
Dich ihm vertraut?
But recently betrothed?
Sag, was zwitschert ihr,
Say, what are you twittering,
Sag, was flüstert ihr
Say, what are you whispering
Des Morgens so vertraut?
So intimately in the morning?
Gelt, du bist wohl auch noch
Am I right, you haven’t long
Nicht lange Braut?
Been married either?
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
