Es war ein Edelweiss (English: italic=no|"It Was an [[Edelweiss]]") is a march, with music and lyrics composed by Herms Niel in 1941 for the German Army.[1]
| German lyrics | Approximate translation | Exact translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First stanza | |||
| Ganz einsam und verlassen an steiler Felsenwand, stolz unter blauem Himmel ein kleines Blümelein stand Ich konnt' nicht widerstehen, ich brach das Blümelein, und schenkte es dem schönsten, herzliebsten Mägdelein Es war ein Edelweiß, | Forlorn and all abandoned, On a cliff face that loomed Proud, under the blue sky, A tiny flower bloomed. I just could not resist it, and picked it where it grew, And gave it to the dearest That my heart ever knew It was an edelweiss, | Entirely lonesome and abandoned on steep cliff wall, proud under blue heaven a little flower stands I could not withstand, I broke the flower, and gave it to the loveliest heart's-dearest maiden It was an edelweiss, | |
| Second stanza | |||
| Sie trägt es mir zu Ehren an ihrem Sonntagskleid. Sie weiß, dass dieses Blümelein ein Männerherz erfreut. Sie trägt es mir zuliebe, und ich bin stolz darauf, denn diese kleine Blümelein schloss einst zwei Herzen auf. Es war ein Edelweiß | She wore with pride and honour, It on her Sunday best. She knows this little, tiny star A man's heart cheers the best. Just for my sake she wore it, And it does make me proud, 'cause of this little flower, Two hearts each other vowed. It was an edelweiss, | She wore it in my honour, on her Sunday´s dress. She knows this little star cheers a man´s heart she wore it for my sake And I´m proud of that because this little flower once locked two hearts up It was an edelweiss, | |
| Third stanza | |||
| So einsam und verlassen, wie dieses Blümelein stand, so standen wir im Leben, bis Herz zu Herz sich fand. Ein Leben voller Liebe und Glück und Sonnenschein hat uns gebracht das kleine, einsame Blümelein. Es war ein Edelweiß, | So lonesome and abandoned, As this small flower stood, So were our lives forlorn Till two hearts joined for good. A life of love forever With luck and shining sun, Is what this flow'r presented, What it for us has done. It was an edelweiss, | So lonesome and abandoned, as this small flower stood, so we stand in life, until heart to heart finds one another. A life full of love With luck and sunshine, was brought to us by the lonely little flower. It was an edelweiss, | |