Songs

Der erste Kuß

by Joseph Haydn

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Text & Translation

Der erste Kuß
German source: Johann Georg Jacobi

Leiser nannt' ich deinen Namen;
Und mein Auge warb um dich:
Liebe Chloe! Näher kamen
Unser beider Herzen sich.

Und du nanntest meinen Namen;
Hoffen ließ dein Auge mich:
Liebe Chloe! näher kamen
Unser beider Lippen sich.

O, es war ein süßes Neigen;
Bis wir endlich, Mund an Mund,
Fest uns hielten, ohne Zeugen -
Und geschlossen war der Bund.

The First Kiss
English translation © Felicity Tomkins & Sooyeon Baik

Softly I spoke your name;
And mine eye wooed you:
Dear Chloe! Our hearts
drew nearer to each other.

And you called my name;
Your eyes gave me hope:
Dear Chloe! Our lips
drew nearer to each other.

Oh, it was a sweet affection,
Until at last, mouth to mouth,
We held fast, without witnesses -
And the bond was sealed.

Der erste Kuß
German source: Johann Georg Jacobi

The First Kiss
English source: Felicity Tomkins & Sooyeon Baik

Leiser nannt' ich deinen Namen;
Softly I spoke your name;
Und mein Auge warb um dich:
And mine eye wooed you:
Liebe Chloe! Näher kamen
Dear Chloe! Our hearts
Unser beider Herzen sich.
drew nearer to each other.

Und du nanntest meinen Namen;
And you called my name;
Hoffen ließ dein Auge mich:
Your eyes gave me hope:
Liebe Chloe! näher kamen
Dear Chloe! Our lips
Unser beider Lippen sich.
drew nearer to each other.

O, es war ein süßes Neigen;
Oh, it was a sweet affection,
Bis wir endlich, Mund an Mund,
Until at last, mouth to mouth,
Fest uns hielten, ohne Zeugen -
We held fast, without witnesses -
Und geschlossen war der Bund.
And the bond was sealed.

Composer

Joseph Haydn

Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was a friend and mentor of Mozart, and tutor of Beethoven. Read more here.

Poet

Johann Georg Jacobi

Johann Georg Jacobi was a German poet. The elder brother of the philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Johann Georg was born at Pempelfort near Düsseldorf. He studied theology at Göttingen and jurisprudence at Helmstedt, and was appointed, in 1766,…

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