When the Swallows Homeward Fly

References > Poetry Referenced by Maugham >

This song warrants a little explanation. I have found a recording, which I think is highly interesting, but I have trouble matching it with the lyric that I have found so far. So I include two English translations and the German original.

Franz Abt (1819–1885), composer
Karl Reginald Herloßsohn (1802-1849), lyric 


English Translation 1:

When the swallows homeward fly, 
When the roses scatter'd lie,
When from neither hill nor dale,
Chants the silv'ry nightingale,
In these words my bleeding heart,
Would to thee its grief impart.
When I thus thy image lose,
Can I, ah! can I e'er know repose.

When the white swan southward roves,
To seek at noon the orange groves,
When the red tints of the west,
Prove the sun is gone to rest,
In these words my bleeding heart,
Would to thee its grief impart.
When I thus thy image lose,
Can I, ah! can I e'er know repose.

My poor heart, why do you cry,
Once also you in peace will lie!
All things on this earth must die;
Will then we meet, you and I?
My heart asks with boding pain
Will faith join us once again?
My heart asks with boding pain
Will faith join us once a gain?
After today's bitter parting pain.

English Translation 2:

When the swallows homeward fly, when the roses scattered lie,
When, from neither hill nor dale, chants the silvery nightingale-
In these words my bleeding heart would to thee its grief impart:
Shall we ever meet again? parting, ah, parting, parting is paint
Parting, ah, parting, parting is pain!

When the white swan southward roves, there to seek the orange groves,
When the red tints of the West prove the sun has gone to rest-
In these words my bleeding heart, would to thee its grief impart:
Shall we ever meet again, parting, ah, parting, parting is pain!
Parting, ah, parting, parting is pain!

Oh, poor heart! whate'er befall, there is rest for thee and all
That on earth which fades away, comes again in bright array-
In these words my bleeding heart would to thee its grief impart:
Shall we ever meet again? parting, ah, parting, parting is pain!
Parting, ah, parting, parting is pain!

German text:

Wenn die Schwalben heimwärts ziehn
Wenn die Rosen nicht mehr blühn,
Wenn der Nachtigall Gesang
Mit der Nachtigall verklang,
Fragt das Herz im bangen Schmerz
Ob ich euch wohl wiederseh?
Scheiden, ach Scheiden
Scheiden tut weh!

Wenn die Schwäne südwärts ziehn
Dorthin, wo Orangen blühn,
Wenn das Abendrot versinkt
Durch die grünen Wipfel blinkt,
Fragt das Herz im bangen Schmerz
Ob ich euch wohl wiederseh?
Scheiden, ach Scheiden
Scheiden tut weh!

Armes Herz, was klagest du?
Ach, du gehst auch einst zur Ruh!
Was auf Erden, muss vergehn!
Gibt es dort ein Wiedersehn?
Fragt ein Herz im bangen Schmerz
Ob ich euch wohl wiederseh?
Scheiden, ach Scheiden
Scheiden tut weh!