Songs

Der Garten des Herzens

by Giacomo Meyerbeer

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Text & Translation

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Der Garten des Herzens
German source: Wilhelm Müller

In meines Herzens Mitte blüht ein Gärtchen,
Verschlossen ist es durch ein kleines Pförtchen,
Zu dem den Schlüssel führt mein liebes Mädchen.

Es ist April, komm, wolle dich nicht schämen,
Und pflücke dir heraus die liebsten Blumen!
Sie drängen sich entgegen deinen Händen.

Je mehr du pflückst, je mehr sie wieder sprossen,
Doch willst du unberührt sie blühen lassen,
So werden sie vor ihrer Zeit vertrocknen.

The garden of the heart
English translation © Richard Stokes

There is a little garden deep in my heart,
Closed by a narrow little gate,
To which my sweetheart holds the key.

It is April. Come, be not ashamed,
And pluck the loveliest flowers for yourself,
They stretch out towards your hands.

The more you pluck, the more they shoot up again;
Yet if you leave them to bloom unheeded,
They will wither before their time.

Der Garten des Herzens
German source: Wilhelm Müller

The garden of the heart
English source: Richard Stokes

In meines Herzens Mitte blüht ein Gärtchen,
There is a little garden deep in my heart,
Verschlossen ist es durch ein kleines Pförtchen,
Closed by a narrow little gate,
Zu dem den Schlüssel führt mein liebes Mädchen.
To which my sweetheart holds the key.

Es ist April, komm, wolle dich nicht schämen,
It is April. Come, be not ashamed,
Und pflücke dir heraus die liebsten Blumen!
And pluck the loveliest flowers for yourself,
Sie drängen sich entgegen deinen Händen.
They stretch out towards your hands.

Je mehr du pflückst, je mehr sie wieder sprossen,
The more you pluck, the more they shoot up again;
Doch willst du unberührt sie blühen lassen,
Yet if you leave them to bloom unheeded,
So werden sie vor ihrer Zeit vertrocknen.
They will wither before their time.

Composer

Giacomo Meyerbeer

Giacomo Meyerbeer was a German opera composer of Jewish birth who has been described as perhaps the most successful stage composer of the nineteenth century.

Poet

Wilhelm Müller

Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…

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