Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne

The Rose, the Lily, the Dove, the Sun · Robert Schumann, Dichterliebe, Op. 48, No. 3 (1840)
Poem: Heinrich Heine (1797–1856), from Lyrisches Intermezzo

Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne,
Die liebt' ich einst alle in Liebeswonne.
Ich lieb' sie nicht mehr, ich liebe alleine
Die Kleine, die Feine, die Reine, die Eine;

The rose, the lily, the dove, the sun,
I once loved them all in love's delight.
I love them no more, I love only
the little one, the fine one, the pure one, the One;

Sie selber, aller Liebe Wonne,
Ist Rose und Lilie und Taube und Sonne.
Ich liebe alleine
Die Kleine, die Feine, die Reine, die Eine!

she herself, the delight of all love,
is rose and lily and dove and sun.
I love only
the little one, the fine one, the pure one, the One!

About the song. A breathless twenty seconds of joy in Dichterliebe: the poet once loved all the classic emblems of love poetry, the rose, the lily, the dove and the sun, and now loves only her, who is all of them at once. The singer needs clean, quick German diction; the piano runs on after the voice stops.

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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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