| Die Blumen, die erfrieren | The flowers that were frozen off, |
| Die Blumen, die erfrieren, | The flowers that were frozen off, |
| Erneuern schöner sich. | renewed themselves still more beautiful. |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I lose you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |
| Die du, wie schön du warest, | That you, how beautiful you were, |
| Nun erst mir offenbarest, | now for the first time were revealed to me, |
| Herlächelnd über mich | smiling over me |
| Aus schöneren Revieren! | from beautiful dreams! |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I have lost you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |
| Nie sahen so im Wachen | Never waking did did |
| Die Augen dich, die schwachen, | my weak eyes see you |
| Wie du nun minniglich | as you now lovingly |
| Kommst meinen Traum zu zieren. | come to decorate my dreams. |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I have lost you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |
| Oft hat von mir hienieden | Often from me down here |
| Dich eine Wand geschieden; | a wall has separated you; |
| Nun scheiden dich und mich | Now separating you and me |
| Durchsichtige Saffieren, | are transparent sapphires - |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I have lost you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |
| Ich hör' in einer Stunde | I hear in one hour |
| Aus deinem süßen Munde | from your sweet mouth |
| Mehr Worte nun, als ich | more words now, than I |
| In Jahren hört', in vieren. | in years heard, in four. |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I have lost you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |
| Erfrorne Blum' im Garten, | Frozen flowers in the garden, |
| Laß dich im Herzen warten, | let yourself wait in my heart, |
| Und blüh hier ewiglich, | and bloom here eternal, |
| Um nie mehr zu erfrieren! | never again to freeze! |
| So mußt' ich dich verlieren, | So must I have lost you |
| Um zu gewinnen dich. | in order to win you. |