Songs

Maienkätzchen

by Johannes Brahms

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.

Text & Translation

Maienkätzchen
German source: Detlev von Liliencron

Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
Ich breche euch und stecke euch
An meinen alten Hut.

Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
Einst brach ich euch und steckte euch
Der Liebsten an den Hut.

May catkins
English translation © Richard Stokes

May catkins, first greeting,
I pick you and pin you
On my old hat.

May catkins, first greeting,
Once I picked and pinned you
On my sweetheart’s hat.

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Maienkätzchen
German source: Detlev von Liliencron

May catkins
English source: Richard Stokes

Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
May catkins, first greeting,
Ich breche euch und stecke euch
I pick you and pin you
An meinen alten Hut.
On my old hat.

Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
May catkins, first greeting,
Einst brach ich euch und steckte euch
Once I picked and pinned you
Der Liebsten an den Hut.
On my sweetheart’s hat.

Composer

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna.  Brahms has been considered, by his…

Poet

Detlev von Liliencron

Liliencron first attracted attention by the volume of poems, Adjutantenritte und andere Gedichte (1883), which was followed by several unsuccessful dramas, a volume of short stories, Eine Sommerschlacht (1886), and a novel Breide…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets