Songs

Der Fischerknabe

by Franz Liszt From 3 Lieder aus Schillers 'Wilhelm Tell' S292

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Text & Translation

Der Fischerknabe
German source: Friedrich von Schiller

Es lächelt der See, er ladet zum Bade,
Der Knabe schlief ein am grünen Gestade,
Da hört er ein Klingen,
Wie Flöten so süß,
Wie Stimmen der Engel
Im Paradies.

Und wie er erwachet in seliger Lust,
Da spülen die Wasser ihm um die Brust,
Und es ruft aus der Tiefe:
Lieb’ Knabe, bist mein!
Ich locke den Schläfer,
Ich zieh ihn herein.

The Fisher Lad
English translation © Richard Stokes

The lake smiles, an enticement to bathe,
The lad fell asleep on the green shore,
Then he hears sounds
As of sweetest flutes,
Like voices of angels
In Paradise.

And as he awakes in rapturous joy,
The waters rise up to his breast,
And a voice calls from the depths:
Dear lad, you are mine!
I lure the slumberer
And drag him down.

Der Fischerknabe
German source: Friedrich von Schiller

The Fisher Lad
English source: Richard Stokes

Es lächelt der See, er ladet zum Bade,
The lake smiles, an enticement to bathe,
Der Knabe schlief ein am grünen Gestade,
The lad fell asleep on the green shore,
Da hört er ein Klingen,
Then he hears sounds
Wie Flöten so süß,
As of sweetest flutes,
Wie Stimmen der Engel
Like voices of angels
Im Paradies.
In Paradise.

Und wie er erwachet in seliger Lust,
And as he awakes in rapturous joy,
Da spülen die Wasser ihm um die Brust,
The waters rise up to his breast,
Und es ruft aus der Tiefe:
And a voice calls from the depths:
Lieb’ Knabe, bist mein!
Dear lad, you are mine!
Ich locke den Schläfer,
I lure the slumberer
Ich zieh ihn herein.
And drag him down.

Composer

Franz Liszt

Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger and organist of the Romantic era. He was also a writer, a philanthropist, a Hungarian nationalist and a Franciscan…

Poet

Friedrich von Schiller

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already…

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