Songs

Spinnelied

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

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Text & Translation

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Spinnelied

Spinn, spinn, Mägdlein, spinn!
So wachsen dir die Sinn;
Wachsen dir die gelben Haar,
Kommen dir die klugen Jahr!
Spinn, spinn, Mägdlein, spinn!

Sing, sing, Mägdlein, sing,
Und sei fein guter Ding;
Fang dein Spinnen lustig an,
Mach ein frommes End daran.
Sing, sing, Mägdlein, sing!

Lern, lern, Mägdlein, lern,
So hast du Glück und Stern;
Lerne bei dem Spinnen fort
Gottesfurcht und Gotteswort.
Lern, lern, Mägdlein, lern!

Lob, lob, Mägdlein, lob,
Dem Schöpfer halte Prob;
Daß dir Glaub und Hoffnung wachs
Wie dein Garn und wie dein Flachs.
Lob, lob, Mägdlein, lob!

Dank, dank, Mägdlein, dank,
Dem Herrn, daß du nicht krank,
Daß du kannst fein oft und viel
Treiben dieses Rockenspiel.
Dank, dank, Mägdlein, dank!

Spinning Song
English translation © Richard Stokes

Spin, spin, maiden, spin!
Then your wits will grow,
And when your blonde hair grows,
Your years of wisdom will come.
Spin, spin, maiden, spin!

Sing, sing, maiden, sing,
And be of good cheer,
Start your spinning cheerily,
Conclude it dutifully,
Sing, sing, maiden, sing!

Learn, learn, maiden, learn,
Then fortune will smile on you;
Learn, as you spin,
The fear of God and God’s word.
Learn, learn, maiden, learn!

Praise, praise, maiden, praise,
Rehearse for your Creator,
So your faith and hope might grow
Like your yarn and like your flax.
Praise, praise, maiden, praise!

Thank, thank, maiden, thank
The Lord you are not sick,
That you can work this distaff
Many a time and oft.
Thank, thank, maiden, thank!

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

Spinnelied

Spinning Song
English source: Richard Stokes

Spinn, spinn, Mägdlein, spinn!
Spin, spin, maiden, spin!
So wachsen dir die Sinn;
Then your wits will grow,
Wachsen dir die gelben Haar,
And when your blonde hair grows,
Kommen dir die klugen Jahr!
Your years of wisdom will come.
Spinn, spinn, Mägdlein, spinn!
Spin, spin, maiden, spin!

Sing, sing, Mägdlein, sing,
Sing, sing, maiden, sing,
Und sei fein guter Ding;
And be of good cheer,
Fang dein Spinnen lustig an,
Start your spinning cheerily,
Mach ein frommes End daran.
Conclude it dutifully,
Sing, sing, Mägdlein, sing!
Sing, sing, maiden, sing!

Lern, lern, Mägdlein, lern,
Learn, learn, maiden, learn,
So hast du Glück und Stern;
Then fortune will smile on you;
Lerne bei dem Spinnen fort
Learn, as you spin,
Gottesfurcht und Gotteswort.
The fear of God and God’s word.
Lern, lern, Mägdlein, lern!
Learn, learn, maiden, learn!

Lob, lob, Mägdlein, lob,
Praise, praise, maiden, praise,
Dem Schöpfer halte Prob;
Rehearse for your Creator,
Daß dir Glaub und Hoffnung wachs
So your faith and hope might grow
Wie dein Garn und wie dein Flachs.
Like your yarn and like your flax.
Lob, lob, Mägdlein, lob!
Praise, praise, maiden, praise!

Dank, dank, Mägdlein, dank,
Thank, thank, maiden, thank
Dem Herrn, daß du nicht krank,
The Lord you are not sick,
Daß du kannst fein oft und viel
That you can work this distaff
Treiben dieses Rockenspiel.
Many a time and oft.
Dank, dank, Mägdlein, dank!
Thank, thank, maiden, thank!

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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