Songs

Meine Rose

by Robert Schumann From Sechs Gedichte und Requiem (1850) Op. 90 1–5.viii.1850

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Text & Translation

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Meine Rose
German source: Nikolaus Lenau

Dem holden Lenzgeschmeide,
Der Rose, meiner Freude,
Die schon gebeugt und blasser
Vom heissen Strahl der Sonnen,
Reich ich den Becher Wasser
Aus dunklem, tiefen Bronnen.

Du Rose meines Herzens!
Vom stillen Strahl des Schmerzens
Bist du gebeugt und blasser;
Ich möchte dir zu Füssen,
Wie dieser Blume Wasser,
Still meine Seele giessen!
Könnt ich dann auch nicht sehen
Dich freudig auferstehen.

My Rose
English translation © Richard Stokes

To spring's fair jewel,
To the rose, my delight,
Already drooping and pale
From the heat of the sun,
I bring a beaker of water
From the deep, dark well.

Rose of my heart!
You droop and pale
From the silent shaft of pain;
I would silently pour out
My soul at your feet,
As I pour water for this flower!
Even though I might not then
See you happily revive.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Meine Rose
German source: Nikolaus Lenau

My Rose
English source: Richard Stokes

Dem holden Lenzgeschmeide,
To spring's fair jewel,
Der Rose, meiner Freude,
To the rose, my delight,
Die schon gebeugt und blasser
Already drooping and pale
Vom heissen Strahl der Sonnen,
From the heat of the sun,
Reich ich den Becher Wasser
I bring a beaker of water
Aus dunklem, tiefen Bronnen.
From the deep, dark well.

Du Rose meines Herzens!
Rose of my heart!
Vom stillen Strahl des Schmerzens
You droop and pale
Bist du gebeugt und blasser;
From the silent shaft of pain;
Ich möchte dir zu Füssen,
I would silently pour out
Wie dieser Blume Wasser,
My soul at your feet,
Still meine Seele giessen!
As I pour water for this flower!
Könnt ich dann auch nicht sehen
Even though I might not then
Dich freudig auferstehen.
See you happily revive.

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…

Poet

Nikolaus Lenau

Nikolaus Lenau was the nom de plume of Nikolaus Franz Niembsch Edler von Strehlenau, a German-language Austrian poet. He was born at Schadat, now Lenauheim, Romania, then in Hungary. His father, a Habsburg government official, died in 1807 in…

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