Die Forelle (The Trout)

Lieder by Franz Schubert (Op. 32, D 550)

Original Libretto from a poem by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart

Within a little river, a tiny fish did swim
Around and ‘round in circles, catering to its whim
I stood there by the water, and watched as it swam free
Around within the river, the fish did pass by me
Around within the river, the fish did pass by me

And soon I saw a fisher, who’s armed with hook and rod
He stared upon the river; the sight did cool his blood
But since the river’s water was bright and clear as day
“That fisherman can’t prosper,” I thought, “There was no way!”
“That fisherman can’t prosper,” I thought, “There was no way!”

The fisher grew impatient; he hatched a plot
He had been standing by the riverbank for far too long
He stirred about the water, and caught the fish as it was in a shock!
And I with blood a-boiling saw how the fish was caught!
And I with blood a-boiling saw how the fish was caught!