Der gefangene Zeisig
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Vöglein, willst du wieder fliegen,
Weil der Frühling kommen ist,
Ist es dir zu Kopf gestiegen,
Dass du in dem Käfig bist?
Winter ist so kalt gewesen,
Halb erfroren ich dich fand;
Hab dich, Vöglein, aufgelesen
Und gewärmt in meiner Hand.
Langsam, langsam kam das Leben,
Liebes Zeislein, dir zurück,
Hab dir fleißig Körnchen geben,
War das nicht ein großes Glück?
Musst jetzt nicht so traurig gucken,
Als wär alle Freud vorbei--
Flieg halt weiter, fange Mucken,
Flugs hinaus, jetzt bist du frei!
Kommt der Winter neu gezogen
Und es fehlt an Futter dir,
Komm nur wieder hergeflogen
In dein Häuslein heim zu mir.
Doch zum Abschied sollst du singen
Mir ein Liedlein zart und fein;
Denn wo wir was Guts empfangen,
Müssen wir schön dankbar sein.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Harald Krebs) , "The caged siskin", 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: 2009-05-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 127
The caged siskin
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Little bird, do you wish to fly again
Because spring has come?
Have you realized
That you are in a cage?
Winter was so cold.
I found you half frozen;
I picked you up, little bird,
And warmed you in my hand.
Slowly, slowly life returned,
Dear little siskin, to you.
I assiduously fed you seeds;
Was that not great good fortune?
Do not look so sad now,
As if all pleasure had passed--
Just fly away, catch gnats,
Quickly [fly] out -- now you are free!
When winter comes again
And you lack food,
Just fly back home to me,
Into your little house.
But in farewell you must sing
Me a song, tender and fine;
For when we receive something good,
We must be properly grateful.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Harald 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.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 127