A song of Autumn

"Where shall we go for our garlands glad
  At the falling of the year, 
 When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad
  When the boughs are yellow and sere?

Where are the old ones that once we had,
  And where are the new ones near?
What shall we do for our garlands glad
  At the falling of the year?"

"Child! can I tell where the garlands go?
  Can I say where the lost leaves veer?
On the brown-burnt banks, when the wild winds blow,
  When they drift through the dead-wood drear?

Girl! When the garlands of next year glow
  You may gather again, my dear;
But I go where the last year's lost leaves go
  At the falling of the year."

by Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870)

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

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "A song of Autumn", 1892, published 1907, first performed 1897 [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 3, note: first published separately in 1892, also set in German

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "Herbstlied", 1892, published 1907, first performed 1897 [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 3, also set in English

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Herbstlied

Wo soll ich pflücken den Blumenstrauss,
Wenn der Herbst zieht in das Land,
Wenn die dürren Blätter gelb sind und kraus,
Und der Büsche Grün ver schwand?

Wo sind die einst schmückten unser Haus,
Und wann sind die neuen zur Hand?
Wo soll ich pflücken den Blumenstrauss,
Wenn der Herbst zieht in das Land?

"Kind! kann ich sagen wo Blumen blüh'n?
Wohin Blatt, wohin Blüte schwand?
Ob sie fielen unter der Sonne Glühn,
Ob die Winde sie streuten ins Land?

Frühling bringt Blumen für dich, mein Kind,
Pflücke sie mit der weissen Hand;
Doch ich werde ruh'n, wo die Blätter sind,
Wenn de Herbst zieht in das Land."

Singable translation by Ed. Sachs

a text in English by Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870)

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

by Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) , "Herbstlied", 1892, published 1907, first performed 1897 [voice and piano], from Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar, no. 3, also set in English

Date added to the website: 2008-08-28.