English Singing Translation of:

Johannes Brahms: Das Mädchen, Opus 95, No. 1 (SMB #100)

(The girl: text by Kapper, from the Serbian)

Stood the maiden in the mountain valley; there her face reflected in the mountain; and the maiden said unto her fair face: "Truly, fair face, you are my concern. If I would know, you my bright, fair face, that some day an aged man would kiss you, I would go out to the green, green mountains, plucking all the wormwood in the mountains, strain the bitter water from the wormwood, and would wash my face with all this water, to be bitter for the old man's kisses! But if I knew, you my bright fair face, that some day a younger man would kiss you, I would go into the green garden, plucking all the roses in the garden, strain the scented water from the roses, and would wash my fair face with this water, to be fragrant for the kiss of the young man!"

(Approx. performance timing: 2:08)

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