Der Nussbaum
Es grünet ein Nußbaum vor dem Haus,
Duftig,
Luftig
Breitet er blättrig die Äste aus.
Duftig,
Luftig
Breitet er blättrig die Äste aus.
A walnut tree stands green before the house,
fragrant,
airy,
it spreads its leafy branches wide.
fragrant,
airy,
it spreads its leafy branches wide.
Viel liebliche Blüten stehen dran;
Linde
Winde
Kommen, sie herzlich zu umfahn.
Linde
Winde
Kommen, sie herzlich zu umfahn.
Many lovely blossoms grow on it;
gentle
winds
come to embrace them fondly.
gentle
winds
come to embrace them fondly.
Es flüstern je zwei zu zwei gepaart,
Neigend,
Beugend
Zierlich zum Kusse die Häuptchen zart.
Neigend,
Beugend
Zierlich zum Kusse die Häuptchen zart.
They whisper, paired two by two,
inclining,
bending
their delicate little heads gracefully to kiss.
inclining,
bending
their delicate little heads gracefully to kiss.
Sie flüstern von einem Mägdlein, das
Dächte die Nächte
Und Tage lang,
Wüßte, ach! selber nicht was.
Dächte die Nächte
Und Tage lang,
Wüßte, ach! selber nicht was.
They whisper of a maiden who
would be thinking, nights
and days long,
and did not know herself, alas, of what.
would be thinking, nights
and days long,
and did not know herself, alas, of what.
Sie flüstern, wer mag verstehn so gar
Leise Weis'?
Flüstern von Bräut'gam und nächstem Jahr.
Leise Weis'?
Flüstern von Bräut'gam und nächstem Jahr.
They whisper: who can understand
so soft a tune?
They whisper of a bridegroom and of next year.
so soft a tune?
They whisper of a bridegroom and of next year.
Das Mägdlein horchet, es rauscht im Baum;
Sehnend,
Wähnend
Sinkt es lächelnd in Schlaf und Traum.
Sehnend,
Wähnend
Sinkt es lächelnd in Schlaf und Traum.
The maiden listens, the tree rustles;
longing,
dreaming,
she sinks smiling into sleep and dreams.
longing,
dreaming,
she sinks smiling into sleep and dreams.
About the song. From Myrthen, Schumann's wedding gift to Clara Wieck. The piano's gently swaying figure, passed between the hands, is the rustling of the tree; the voice seems to drift in and out of it, as the blossoms whisper to the dreaming girl about a bridegroom and 'next year'.
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Translation © Art Song Translations. You may print it free of charge in concert and recital programs with the credit "Translation: Art Song Translations". The German text is in the public domain; repetitions made by the composer are not printed.
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