Die Lorelei

Album: Memories of Germany (1827)
Play Video
  • Ich weiss nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
    Dass ich so traurig bin;
    Ein Mrchen aus alten Zeiten,
    Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

    Die Luft ist khl, und es dunkelt,
    Und ruhig fliesst der Rhein;
    Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
    Im Abendsonnenschein.

    Die schnste Jungfrau sitzet
    Dort oben wunderbar,
    Ihr goldenes Geschmeide blitzet,
    Sie kmmt ihr goldenes Haar.

    Sie kmmt es mit goldenem Kamme
    Und singt ein Lied dabei;
    Das hat eine wundersame,
    Gewaltige Melodei.

    Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
    Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
    Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
    Er schat nur hinauf in die Hh.

    Ich glaube, die Welllen verschlingen
    Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
    Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
    Die Lorelei getan.

    --------------------------

    Translation:

    I don't know what it may signify
    That I am so sad;
    There's a tale from ancient times
    That I can't get out of my mind.

    The air is cool and the twilight is falling
    and the Rhine is flowing quietly by;
    the top of the mountain is glittering
    in the evening sun.

    The loveliest maiden is sitting
    Up there, wondrous to tell.
    Her golden jewelry sparkles
    as she combs her golden hair

    She combs it with a golden comb
    and sings a song as she does,
    A song with a peculiar,
    powerful melody.

    It seizes upon the boatman in his small boat
    With unrestrained woe;
    He does not look below to the rocky shoals,
    He only looks up at the heights.

    If I'm not mistaken, the waters
    Finally swallowed up fisher and boat;
    And with her singing
    The Lorelei did this. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Anonymous from United StatesNot crap. Beautiful story. Errors are due to using English keyboard.
  • Kamenomesto from France Not really crap: the missing letters are those which bear an umlaut so I suspect that the error is technical.
  • AnonymousCrap - letters missing from the German. Get a Grip!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.