Kleines Lied

Und werden wir uns nie besitzen,
so will ich Deinen Namen doch
ins Holz der Weltenesche schnitzen,
ein Zeugnis fernstem Volke noch.

So sollen tausend Herzen lesen,
die gern ein kleines Lied beglückt,
was Du dem Einsamen gewesen,
wie Du ihn innerlichst entzückt.

Authorship

by Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914) , title unknown

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892-1959) , "Kleines Lied", op. 61 no. 2, published 1928 [voice and piano], from Lieder der Liebe II, no. 2, also set in Finnish

by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892-1959) , "Pieni laulu", op. 61 no. 2, published 1928. [voice and piano], also set in German

ENG English (Dave Benson) (Oliver Baettig) , "Little song", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Notes about green, red, and white dots

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Little song

Though we can never be together,
I will carve your name
into an ash tree 
as a lasting sign of our love.

A thousand hearts 
who like little songs
shall read of what you meant to me, the lonely one...
how you were my most sincere delight.

Authorship

Translation from German to English copyright © 2004 by Dave Benson, david.benson (AT) mail.mcgill.ca and Oliver Baettig, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. Please contact the copyright-holder(s) when requesting permission to reprint and be sure to give proper credit.

a text in German by Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914) , title unknown FIN

Text added to the website: 2004-07-05.