Songs

Lied für XXX

by Robert Schumann

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Text & Translation

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Lied für XXX
German source: Schumann, Robert

Leicht, wie gaukelnde Sylphiden,
Flattern süsse Schwärmereien
Auf den süssen Rosen bleiben
Lose wie die Waidchen hin.
Küsse diese, küsse jene,
Küsse, küsse warm und heiss.
Fessle flüchtig Alles Schöne
Rasch in deinen Zauberkreis.

In dem Spiel beseelten Träumen,
Wiege, süsse Träumereien
Über junge Blütenkeime
Träumerisch dein Leben hin.
Träume wie die Rosen währen,
Wenn die Weste sie umwehn,
Ach, die Wahrheit sind die Tränen
Nur im Träumen lebt sich’s schön.

Song for XXX
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Light as flitting sylphs
Sweet raptures flutter
Airily as willows,
And settle on sweet roses.
Kiss this one, kiss that one,
Kiss, kiss warmly and ardently.
Fleetingly, swiftly, bind all that is beautiful
Into your magic circle.

In the game of soulful dreams
Sweet reveries dreamily rock your life away
Above the first young blossoms.
Dreams endure like roses
When the west winds caress them.
Ah, tears are truth;
Only in dreams
Can life be beautiful.

Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

Lied für XXX
German source: Schumann, Robert

Song for XXX
English source: Richard Wigmore

Leicht, wie gaukelnde Sylphiden,
Light as flitting sylphs
Flattern süsse Schwärmereien
Sweet raptures flutter
Auf den süssen Rosen bleiben
Airily as willows,
Lose wie die Waidchen hin.
And settle on sweet roses.
Küsse diese, küsse jene,
Kiss this one, kiss that one,
Küsse, küsse warm und heiss.
Kiss, kiss warmly and ardently.
Fessle flüchtig Alles Schöne
Fleetingly, swiftly, bind all that is beautiful
Rasch in deinen Zauberkreis.
Into your magic circle.

In dem Spiel beseelten Träumen,
In the game of soulful dreams
Wiege, süsse Träumereien
Sweet reveries dreamily rock your life away
Über junge Blütenkeime
Above the first young blossoms.
Träumerisch dein Leben hin.
Dreams endure like roses
Träume wie die Rosen währen,
When the west winds caress them.
Wenn die Weste sie umwehn,
Ah, tears are truth;
Ach, die Wahrheit sind die Tränen
Only in dreams
Nur im Träumen lebt sich’s schön.
Can life be beautiful.

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

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