Songs

Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb

by Richard Strauss From Drei Lieder der Ophelia (1918) Op. 67

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Text & Translation

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Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb
German source: Karl Joseph Simrock

Wie erkenn’ ich mein Treulieb
Vor andern nun?
An dem Muschelhut und Stab
Und den Sandalschuh’n.

Er ist tot und lange hin,
Tot und hin, Fräulein.
Ihm zu Häupten grünes Gras,
Ihm zu Fuß ein Stein.—O, ho!

Auf seinem Bahrtuch, weiß wie Schnee,
Viel liebe Blumen trauern:
Sie gehn zu Grabe naß, o weh,
Vor Liebesschauern.

How shall I know my true love
English translation © William Shakespeare

How shall I know my true love
From others now?
By his cockle hat and staff
And his sandal shoes.

He is dead and long gone,
Dead and gone, lady!
At his head green grass,
At his feet a stone. O, ho!

On his shroud white as snow
Many sweet flowers mourn.
They’ll go wet to the grave, alas,
Wet with love’s showers.

Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb
German source: Karl Joseph Simrock

How shall I know my true love
English source: William Shakespeare

Wie erkenn’ ich mein Treulieb
How shall I know my true love
Vor andern nun?
From others now?
An dem Muschelhut und Stab
By his cockle hat and staff
Und den Sandalschuh’n.
And his sandal shoes.

Er ist tot und lange hin,
He is dead and long gone,
Tot und hin, Fräulein.
Dead and gone, lady!
Ihm zu Häupten grünes Gras,
At his head green grass,
Ihm zu Fuß ein Stein.—O, ho!
At his feet a stone. O, ho!

Auf seinem Bahrtuch, weiß wie Schnee,
On his shroud white as snow
Viel liebe Blumen trauern:
Many sweet flowers mourn.
Sie gehn zu Grabe naß, o weh,
They’ll go wet to the grave, alas,
Vor Liebesschauern.
Wet with love’s showers.

Composer

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.  Read more here.

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