Songs

Den Första Kyssen

by Jean Sibelius

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Text & Translation

Den Första Kyssen
Swedish source: Johan Ludvig Runeberg

På silvermolnets kant satt aftonstjärnan,
Från lundens skymning frågte henne tärnan:
Säg, aftonstjärna, vad i himlen tänkes,
När första kyssen åt en älskling skänkes?
Och himlens blyga dotter hördes svara:
På jorden blickar ljusets änglaskara,
Och ser sin egen sällhet speglad åter;
Blott döden vänder ögat bort -- och gråter.

The First Kiss
English translation © Anon.

The evening star sat on the rim of silver mist.
From the shadowy grove the maiden asked her:
Tell me, evening star, what do they think in heaven
when you give the first kiss to your lover?
And heaven's shy daughter was heard to answer:
The angels of light look toward the earth
and see their own bliss reflected back;
only death turns his eyes away and weeps.

Den Första Kyssen
Swedish source: Johan Ludvig Runeberg

The First Kiss
English source: Anon.

På silvermolnets kant satt aftonstjärnan,
The evening star sat on the rim of silver mist.
Från lundens skymning frågte henne tärnan:
From the shadowy grove the maiden asked her:
Säg, aftonstjärna, vad i himlen tänkes,
Tell me, evening star, what do they think in heaven
När första kyssen åt en älskling skänkes?
when you give the first kiss to your lover?
Och himlens blyga dotter hördes svara:
And heaven's shy daughter was heard to answer:
På jorden blickar ljusets änglaskara,
The angels of light look toward the earth
Och ser sin egen sällhet speglad åter;
and see their own bliss reflected back;
Blott döden vänder ögat bort -- och gråter.
only death turns his eyes away and weeps.

Composer

Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is best known for his set of seven symphonies, but he also composed over a hundred songs for voice and piano, and various pieces inspired by nature…

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