Songs

Die Linde blühte, die Nachtigall sang

by Heinrich Heine From Lyrisches Intermezzo (1823) 1822-1823

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Text & Translation

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Die Linde blühte, die Nachtigall sang
German source: Heinrich Heine

Die Linde blühte, die Nachtigall sang,
Die Sonne lachte mit freundlicher Lust;
Da küßtest du mich, und dein Arm mich umschlang,
Da presstest du mich an die schwellende Brust.

Die Blätter fielen, der Rabe schrie hohl,
Die Sonne grüßte verdrossenen Blicks;
Da sagten wir frostig einander: „Lebwohl!“
Da knickstest du höflich den höflichsten Knicks.

The linden blossomed, the nightingale sang
English translation © Hal Draper

The linden blossomed, the nightingale sang,
The sun laughed down in friendly jest;
You clasped me and kissed me, and sweet the song rang,
You pressed me tight to your swelling breast.

The raven was croaking, the yellow leaves fell,
The sun greeted faces sullen with spite;
We told each other a frosty farewell,
Polite was your curtsey – so very polite.

Translations by Hal Draper published by Oxford University Press and Suhrkamp/Insel Verlag (1984)

Die Linde blühte, die Nachtigall sang
German source: Heinrich Heine

The linden blossomed, the nightingale sang
English source: Hal Draper

Die Linde blühte, die Nachtigall sang,
The linden blossomed, the nightingale sang,
Die Sonne lachte mit freundlicher Lust;
The sun laughed down in friendly jest;
Da küßtest du mich, und dein Arm mich umschlang,
You clasped me and kissed me, and sweet the song rang,
Da presstest du mich an die schwellende Brust.
You pressed me tight to your swelling breast.

Die Blätter fielen, der Rabe schrie hohl,
The raven was croaking, the yellow leaves fell,
Die Sonne grüßte verdrossenen Blicks;
The sun greeted faces sullen with spite;
Da sagten wir frostig einander: „Lebwohl!“
We told each other a frosty farewell,
Da knickstest du höflich den höflichsten Knicks.
Polite was your curtsey – so very polite.

Composer

Poet

Heinrich Heine

Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…

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