Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Der Totenkranz
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ich lege einen Totenkranz dir, Mutter, auf das Grab, den ich aus Rosen ohne Dorn für dich gewunden hab'. Die zarten Rosen, Fürsten selbst, oft nicht erblühet sind; doch legt auf seiner Mutter Sarg sie still manch' Bettlerkind. Wohl überall am Wege steh'n sie als ein wild Gerank, doch nicht sie jedes Aug' erschaut; man nennt sie: "Kindesdank." Dich aber, Mutter, schmücken sie als schönste Totenzier, für jeden Segen, den du gabst, pflückt' eine Ros' ich dir. Und dass der Kranz nicht welken mag, den auf dein Grab ich setzt', hab' ich mit meines Herzens Blut die Rosen leis' benetzt.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "Der Totenkranz", op. 73 (Two Songs) no. 2, published 1914 [ voice and piano ], also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912) ; composed by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 100
The children's thanks
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I lay a wreath, with trembling hand, Dear mother, on thy grave, A wreath of thornless roses twined, As fair as earth e'er gave. No fairer blossoms o'er the head of king or queen were piled, And yet they oft on lowly grave Are laid by beggar-child. They grow beside the hedgerow wild On summer's sunny banks, Not ev'ry eye their charm beholds! They call them "children's thanks." O let them plead for me today, O'er thee their fragrance shed. To ev'ry blessing thou didst give Thy "children's thanks" be wed! And lest they lose their fragrant breath, Or die before their hour, With tears of love, in sorrow shed, Have I bedewed each flower.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Louis Zacharias
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867 - 1944), "The children's thanks", op. 73 (Two Songs) no. 2, published 1914 [ voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 115