| O wie matt | Oh how weak |
| O wie matt | Oh how weak |
| Ist dein Glanz, | is your brilliance; |
| Jedes Blatt | each leaf |
| Welk am Kranz. | withers on the wreath. |
| Welk am Kranz | Withers on the wreath |
| Jedes Blatt, | each leaf, |
| Und dein Glanz | and your brilliance |
| O wie matt! | oh how weak! |
| O wie stumpf | Oh how dull |
| Ist dein Duft, | is your scent, |
| Und wie dumpf | and how musty |
| Deine Luft. | your air. |
| Deine Luft | Your air |
| O wie dumpf, | oh how musty, |
| Und dein Duft | and your scent |
| Wie so stumpf! | just as dull. |
| Maienflur, | May meadow, |
| Dieses Jahr | this year |
| Bist du nur | you are only |
| Januar. | January. |
| Januar | January |
| Bist du nur | you are only |
| Dieses Jahr, | this year, |
| Maienflur! | a May meadow! |
| Denn im Januar | For in January |
| Starb das schöne Paar, | died the beautiful pair, |
| Und wo ich ans Paar | and where I of the pair |
| Denk', ists Januar. | think, it is January. |
| Mai ist Januar, | May is January, |
| Wo ich denk' ans Paar; | where I think of the pair, |
| Denn das schöne Paar | for the beautiful pair |
| Starb im Januar. | died in January. |