Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär

"Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär" (If [only] I were a bird) is a German and Swiss folk song from the song book Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

"Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär"
Text in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, 1806
Song
Language	German
English title	If only I were a bird
Published	not later than 1756
Genre	Folk
Songwriter(s)	Traditional

The song, probably of Swiss origin, became widely known already in the latter half of the 18th century (a leaflet dated 1756; then published in a German folklore collection from 1778/79). The tune to the work first appeared in print not later than in 1800 in a German Liederspiel [song play].

Words and melody

 
Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär,
und auch zwei Flüglein hätt,
flög ich zu dir;
weil's aber nicht kann sein,
bleib ich allhier.

Bin ich gleich weit von dir,
bin ich doch im Schlaf bei dir,
und red mit dir;
wenn ich erwachen tu,
bin ich allein.

Es vergeht keine Stund in der Nacht,
da mein Herze nicht erwacht,
und an dich gedenkt,
dass du mir viel tausendmal
dein Herze geschenkt.

 
If I were a little bird
and also had two little wings,
I'd fly to you;
but as that cannot be
I'll stay right here.

Though I am far from you
I'm with you as I sleep
and speak to you;
when I wake up
I am alone.

Not an hour of the night goes by
that my heart doesn't wake
and thinks of you,
that to me a thousand times
you gave me your heart.

Poetic translation
Oh, when I were a bird
And had two wings to ford,
I'd rise to thee;
Instead, I stay on earth —
I cannot heave.

Though within my dreams
We stand one by one with thee,
My single word,
Whispering to thy ears,
Leaves me alone.

Any hour shortens the night,
Once again my heart to bite,
Thee again to call,
For thou sent me so many times
Thy whole soul.

External links

• Media related to Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär at Wikimedia Commons
• "Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär' ", lieder.net