A star is tumbling downward

Für die Liebe!

Text by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)
Set by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847), op. 1 no. 1 "Schwanenlied"
Hans Pfitzner (1869-1949), op. 4 no. 3 "Es fällt ein Stern herunter"
Translation copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer
deutsch - francais


A star is tumbling downward
From where it sparkled on high,
It is the star for lovers,
That falling there I spy.

The apple tree has been shedding
White petals abundantly
Along come the breezes so teasing
And toying with the debris.

The swan sings in the water,
And paddles o'er each wave,
And singing ever softer,
Dives to his watery grave.

It is so dark and silent,
Swept off are bloom and leaf,
The star has fizzled and scattered;
And faded, the swan's song, so brief.