Songs

Das verlassene Mägdlein

by Robert Schumann From Romanzen und Balladen, iv (1847) Op. 64 27.x 7– 8.xi.1841 & 29–30.v.1847

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This song was recorded live at the Oxford Lieder Festival as part of Hugo Wolf: The Complete Songs on Stone Records.

Click here to listen to this song with Sophie Daneman and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.

Text & Translation

View IPA

Das verlassene Mägdlein
German source: Eduard Mörike

Früh, wann die Hähne krähn,
Eh die Sternlein schwinden,
Muss ich am Herde stehn,
Muss Feuer zünden.

Schön ist der Flammen Schein,
Es springen die Funken;
Ich schaue so darein,
In Leid versunken.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Treuloser Knabe,
Dass ich die Nacht von dir
Geträumet habe.

Träne auf Träne dann
Stürzet hernieder;
So kommt der Tag heran –
O ging er wieder!

The forsaken servant-girl
English translation © Richard Stokes

Early, when the cocks crow,
Before the tiny stars recede,
I must be at the hearth,
I must light the fire.

The flames are beautiful,
The sparks fly;
I gaze at them,
Sunk in sorrow.

Suddenly I realize,
Faithless boy,
That in the night
I dreamt of you.

Tear after tear
Then tumbles down;
So the day dawns –
O would it were gone again!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Das verlassene Mägdlein
German source: Eduard Mörike

The forsaken servant-girl
English source: Richard Stokes

Früh, wann die Hähne krähn,
Early, when the cocks crow,
Eh die Sternlein schwinden,
Before the tiny stars recede,
Muss ich am Herde stehn,
I must be at the hearth,
Muss Feuer zünden.
I must light the fire.

Schön ist der Flammen Schein,
The flames are beautiful,
Es springen die Funken;
The sparks fly;
Ich schaue so darein,
I gaze at them,
In Leid versunken.
Sunk in sorrow.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Suddenly I realize,
Treuloser Knabe,
Faithless boy,
Dass ich die Nacht von dir
That in the night
Geträumet habe.
I dreamt of you.

Träne auf Träne dann
Tear after tear
Stürzet hernieder;
Then tumbles down;
So kommt der Tag heran –
So the day dawns –
O ging er wieder!
O would it were gone again!

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

Poet

Eduard Mörike

Eduard Friedrich Mörike was a German Romantic poet. Mörike was born in Ludwigsburg. His father was Karl Friedrich Mörike (d. 1817), a district medical councilor; his mother was Charlotte Bayer. He attended the Latin school at Ludwigsburg, and the…

Performances

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