Songs

Was weinst du, Blümlein

by Clara Schumann From Sechs Lieder aus Jucunde (1853) Op. 23

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Text & Translation

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Was weinst du, Blümlein
German source: Hermann Rollett

Was weinst du, Blümlein, im Morgenschein?
Das Blümlein lachte: Was fällt dir ein!
Ich bin ja fröhlich, ich weine nicht –
Die Freudenträne durch’s Aug’ mir bricht.

Du Morgenhimmel, bist blutig rot,
Als läge deine Sonne im Meere tot?
Da lacht der Himmel und ruft mich an:
Ich streue ja Rosen auf ihre Bahn!

Und strahlend flammte die Sonn’ hervor,
Die Blumen blühten freudig empor.
Des Baches Wellen jauchzten auf,
Und die Sonne lachte freundlich darauf.

Why are you weeping, little flower?
English translation © Richard Stokes

Why are you weeping, little flower?
The little flower laughed: ‘What do you mean!
I am happy, I do not weep –
It’s tears of joy that well in my eyes.’

O morning sky, you are blood red,
As though the sun lay dead in the sea.
Heaven then laughed and cried to me:
‘I spread roses on its path!’

And with blazing beams the sun arose,
Flowers bloomed joyously upwards.
The waves of the brooklet rejoiced,
And the sun broke out in happy laughter.

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

Was weinst du, Blümlein
German source: Hermann Rollett

Why are you weeping, little flower?
English source: Richard Stokes

Was weinst du, Blümlein, im Morgenschein?
Why are you weeping, little flower?
Das Blümlein lachte: Was fällt dir ein!
The little flower laughed: ‘What do you mean!
Ich bin ja fröhlich, ich weine nicht –
I am happy, I do not weep –
Die Freudenträne durch’s Aug’ mir bricht.
It’s tears of joy that well in my eyes.’

Du Morgenhimmel, bist blutig rot,
O morning sky, you are blood red,
Als läge deine Sonne im Meere tot?
As though the sun lay dead in the sea.
Da lacht der Himmel und ruft mich an:
Heaven then laughed and cried to me:
Ich streue ja Rosen auf ihre Bahn!
‘I spread roses on its path!’

Und strahlend flammte die Sonn’ hervor,
And with blazing beams the sun arose,
Die Blumen blühten freudig empor.
Flowers bloomed joyously upwards.
Des Baches Wellen jauchzten auf,
The waves of the brooklet rejoiced,
Und die Sonne lachte freundlich darauf.
And the sun broke out in happy laughter.

Composer

Clara Schumann

Clara Schumann (1819-96) née Wieck is one of the most significant women in musical history. Apart from being a tremendously successful pianist and pedagogue, she wrote numerous songs alongside other works in various genres. She also transformed the…

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