Songs

Schmetterling

by Robert Schumann From Lieder-Album für die Jugend (1849) Op. 79 21.iv–13.v.1849

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

Text & Translation

View IPA

Schmetterling
German source: August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

O Schmetterling sprich,
Was fliehest du mich?
Warum doch so eilig,
Jetzt fern und dann nah!

Jetzt fern und dann nah,
Jetzt hier und dann da.—
Ich will dich nicht haschen,
Ich tu dir kein Leid.

Ich tu dir kein Leid:
O bleib allezeit!
Und wär ich ein Blümchen,
So spräch ich zu dir.

So spräch ich zu dir:
Komm, komm doch zu mir!
Ich schenk dir mein Herzchen,
Wie gut bin ich dir!

Butterfly
English translation © Richard Stokes

O butterfly, say,
Why fly from me?
Why hurry so,
First far and then near?

First far and then near,
First here and then there,
I don’t want to catch you,
I’ll do you no harm.

I’ll do you no harm,
Oh stay forever,
And if I were a flower,
I’d say to you,

I’d say to you:
Come, come here to me!
I’ll give you my heart,
I love you so!

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

Schmetterling
German source: August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

Butterfly
English source: Richard Stokes

O Schmetterling sprich,
O butterfly, say,
Was fliehest du mich?
Why fly from me?
Warum doch so eilig,
Why hurry so,
Jetzt fern und dann nah!
First far and then near?

Jetzt fern und dann nah,
First far and then near,
Jetzt hier und dann da.—
First here and then there,
Ich will dich nicht haschen,
I don’t want to catch you,
Ich tu dir kein Leid.
I’ll do you no harm.

Ich tu dir kein Leid:
I’ll do you no harm,
O bleib allezeit!
Oh stay forever,
Und wär ich ein Blümchen,
And if I were a flower,
So spräch ich zu dir.
I’d say to you,

So spräch ich zu dir:
I’d say to you:
Komm, komm doch zu mir!
Come, come here to me!
Ich schenk dir mein Herzchen,
I’ll give you my heart,
Wie gut bin ich dir!
I love you so!

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

August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben

August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben  was a German poet. He is best known for writing "Das Lied der Deutschen", its third stanza now being the national anthem of Germany, and a number of popular children's songs, considered part of the Young…

Performances

Previously performed at:

Help us with a Donation

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

Make a Donation

Select Tickets