Die Sennin (The dairy maid)

Text by Nikolaus Lenau (1802-1850)

Set by Robert Alexander Schumann (1810-1856), op. 90, #4

Schöne Sennin, noch einmal

   
Beautiful dairy-maid, again one-time
(Beautiful dairy-maid, once again)

Singe deinen Ruf ins Tal,

    
sing your call into-the valley,

Dass die frohe Felsensprache

   
that the happy rocky-language/echo

Deinem hellen Ruf erwache!

   
at-your clear call may-awaken!

Horch, o Sennin, wie dein Sang

     
Listen, oh dairy-maid, how your song

In die Brust den Bergen drang,

     
into the bosom of-the mountains penetrated,

Wie dein Wort die Felsenseelen

    
how your word the rock-souls

Freudig fort und fort erzählen!

    
joyfully on and on retell!
(joyfully back and forth retell.)

Aber einst, wie alles flieht,

    
But one-day, as all flies,
(But one day, as all things pass,)

Scheidet du mit deinem Lied,

    
depart you with your song,
(you will depart, taking your song with you,)

Die Sennin (Lenau) Page 1 of 2

Wenn dich Liebe fortbewogen,
   
whether you love has-moved-on,
(whether it is love that has moved you on,)

Oder dich der Tod entzogen.

    
or you [the] death has-taken-away.
(or death that has taken you away.)

Und verlassen werden steh'n, And forsaken will stand

    the gray rocky cliffs;
And forsaken will stand, sadly and silently gazing outward
and pondering your songs.
Traurig stumm herüberseh'n
  
sadly silent gazing-over

Dort die grauen Felsenzinnen

   
there the gray rocky-cliffs

Und auf deine Lieder sinnen.

    
and on your songs thinking.
(thinking of your songs.)

(Literal translation and IPA transcription © 2007 by Bard Suverkrop—IPA Source, LLC)

Die Sennin (Lenau) Page 2 of 2