"Messages" was set by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), as his op. 77 no. 5 (1850). The text is by Christian L'Égru and the hectic pace seems perfectly suited to our own hurried time. Though really a man's song, it is usually sung by women, perhaps because of the rippling accompaniment and fluttery, florid, fast words. Alan Blyth writes of Lehmann's interpretation in comparison to that of Elisabeth Schumann: "Lehmann is at once more impetuous and more intimate, also more importunate, her frequent ritardandi as at "für den Gruss einen Kuss" showing how much she is missing his/her lover. The 1941 remake [heard here with Paul Ulanowsky] is even more ebullient and catches more truly the Lehmann warmth".
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| Nicht so schnelle, nicht so schnelle! | | | | Not so fast, not so fast! |
| Wart ein wenig, kleine Welle! | | | Wait a bit, tiny wave! |
| Will dir einen Auftrag geben | | | I'd like to give you a message |
| An die Liebste mein. | | | for my sweetheart. |
| Wirst du ihr vorüberschweben, | | | If you glide past her, |
| Grüße sie mir fein! | | | greet her fondly for me! |
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| Sag,ich wäre mitgekommen, | | | Say, I would come with you, |
| Auf dir selbst herabgeschwommen: | | | sailing on you myself - |
| Für den Gruß einen Kuß | | | in return for my greeting, |
| Kühn mir zu erbitten, | | | boldly demanding a kiss - |
| Doch der Zeit Dringlichkeit | | | but the urgency of time |
| Hätt' es nicht gelitten. | | | would not permit it. |
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| Nicht so eillig! halt! erlaube, | | | Not so hasty! stop! permit me, |
| Kleine, leichtbeschwingte Taube! | | | small, light-winged dove! |
| Habe dir was aufzutragen | | | I have a message |
| An die Liebste mein! | | | for my sweetheart! |
| Sollst ihr tausend Grüße sagen, | | | You should give her a thousand greetings, |
| Hundert obendrein. | | | and a hundred beyond that. |
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| Sag, ich wär' mit dir geflogen, | | | Say, I would fly with you, |
| Über Berg und Strom gezogen: | | | stretching over mountain and stream - |
| Für den Gruß einen Kuß | | | in return for my greeting, |
| Kühn mir zu erbitten, | | | boldly demanding a kiss - |
| Doch der Zeit Dringlichkeit | | | but the urgency of time |
| Hätt' es nicht gelitten. | | | would not permit it. |
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| Warte nicht, daß ich dich treibe, | | | Don't wait for me to drive you, |
| O du träge Mondesscheibe! | | | oh you sluggish round moon! |
| Weißt's ja, was ich dir befohlen | | | You know well what I have commanded you |
| Für die Liebste mein: | | | to do for my sweetheart: |
| Durch das Fensterchen verstohlen | | | through her little window, furtively, |
| Grüße sie mir fein! | | | greet her fondly for me! |
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| Sag, ich wär' auf dich gestiegen, | | | Say, I would climb on you |
| Selber zu ihr hinzufliegen: | | | and fly to her myself - |
| Für den Gruß einen Kuß | | | in return for my greeting, |
| Kühn mir zu erbitten, | | | boldly demanding a kiss - |
| Du seist Schuld, Ungeduld | | | you're at fault, impatience |
| Hätt' es nicht gelitten. | | | would not permit it. |
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