Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Wellen blinkten durch die Nacht, Blass der Mond am Himmel stand, Mägdlein saß an Ufers Rand, Hielt bei ihren Leinen Wacht, Sang in leisen Melodein In die weite Nacht hinein: Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein, In des stillen Mondes Hut! Bist du bleich, dann bist du gut, Bist du bleich, dann bist du rein, Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein! Bleich muss alles Ende sein. Sonne gibt zu lichten Schein, Läßt dem Herzen keine Rast; Ist der Tag nur erst erblasst, Wird das Herz auch ruhig sein. Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein! Bleich muss alles Ende sein. War ein töricht Mägdelein, Rot und frisch mein Angesicht; Rote Wangen taugen nicht, Locken Unglück nur herein. Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein! Bleich muss alles Ende sein. Eile dich und bleiche fein! Hab' ja treu gewartet dein; Legt man mich ins Grab hinein, Deck' in Frieden mein Gebein! Bleiche, bleiche weisses Lein! Bleich muss alles Ende sein!
R. Schumann sets stanzas 2-5
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), appears in Lieder eines Malers mit Randzeichnungen seiner Freunde, first published 1838 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Wilhelm Reinhard Berger (1861 - 1911), "Wellen blinkten durch die Nacht", op. 13 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte ) no. 4, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Bremen, Praeger & Meier [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Ludwig) Bernhard Hopffer (1840 - 1877), "Der Bleicherin Nachtlied", published 1886 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Berlin, Ries & Erler  [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Bleicherin Nachtlied", op. 91 (Romanzen für Frauenstimmen (Heft 2)) no. 5 (1849), published 1851, stanzas 2-5 [ vocal quartet for 2 sopranos and 2 altos with piano ], Bonn, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Paul Trauttenfels (b. 1849), "Der Bleicherin Nachtlied", published 1886 [ three-part women's chorus ], from [Vier] Gesänge und Lieder für dreistimmigen Frauenchor, no. 1, Leipzig, Robolsky [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Julie Baroni-Cavalcabó, Joseph Dessauer, Ernest Fritsch, Joseph Rheinberger, Louis [Ludwig] Spohr.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Nachtlied van een bleekster", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nachtlied van de bleekster", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Night Song of the Bleaching Girl", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de nuit de la blanchisseuse", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-02-24
Line count: 30
Word count: 149
Waves glittered through the night, Pale stood the moon in the sky, The maiden sat on the bank [of the river] Watching over her linens. In quiet melodies, she sang Out into the wide night: Bleach, bleach, white linen, In the care of the quiet moon! If you are bleached, then you are good, If you are bleached, then you are clean. Bleach, bleach, white linen, Pale all endings must be. The sun's light is too bright, It leaves my heart no rest; When daylight has finally faded away, My heart, too, shall be quietened. Bleach, bleach, white linen, Pale all endings must be. I was a foolish maiden, Rosy and fresh was my face; Red cheeks are not a good thing, They only bring misfortune upon you. Bleach, bleach, white linen, Pale all endings must be. Hurry and bleach nicely! For I waited faithfully for you; When they lay me in my grave, Cover my bones in peace! Bleach, bleach, white linen, Pale all endings must be.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852), appears in Lieder eines Malers mit Randzeichnungen seiner Freunde, first published 1838
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-21
Line count: 30
Word count: 168