Die Forelle D.550
Franz Schubert Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In einem Bächlein helle
Da schoß in froher Eil'
Die launische Forelle vorüber wie ein Pfeil

Ich stand an dem Gestade
Und sah in süßer Ruh'
Des muntern Fischleins Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu
Des muntern Fischleins Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu

Ein Fischer mit der Rute
Wohl an dem Ufer stand
Und sah's mit kaltem Blute
Wie sich das Fischlein wand

So lang dem Wasser Helle
So dacht ich, nicht gebricht
So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht
So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht

Doch endlich ward dem Diebe die Zeit zu lang
Er macht' das Bächlein tückisch trübe
Und eh ich es gedacht
So zuckte seine Rute, das Fischlein
Das Fischlein zappelt dran
Und ich mit regem Blute, sah die Betrogene an
Und ich mit regem Blute sah die Betrogene an

- Additional Lyrics in Variations -
Die ihr am goldenen Quelle
Der sicheren Jugend weilt
Denkt doch an die Forelle
Seht ihr Gefahr, so eilt!

Meist fehlt ihr nur aus Mangel
Der Klugheit, Mädchen, seht




Verführer mit der Angel!
Sonst blutet ihr zu spät!

Overall Meaning

In Franz Schubert's song "Die Forelle," the singer stands by a clear brook and observes a lively trout swimming swiftly through the water. As the singer watches in peaceful enjoyment, a fisherman with a fishing rod on the bank also notices the fish. The fisherman coolly watches as the trout moves through the water, thinking that as long as the water remains clear, he won't be able to catch the fish. However, eventually, the fisherman becomes impatient and purposefully stirs up the water, causing the trout to get caught on his fishing line. The singer, witnessing the betrayal, feels a surge of empathy for the deceived fish.


The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the innocent and carefree nature of youth being vulnerable to deceit and manipulation. The trout symbolizes youth and naivety, while the fisherman represents those who take advantage of the young and unsuspecting. The clear brook and tranquil scene at the beginning reflect the idyllic state of youth, untouched by the dangers and schemes of the world. However, the disturbance caused by the fisherman represents the harsh reality of how easily innocence can be corrupted and exploited.


Line by Line Meaning

In einem Bächlein helle
In a bright little stream


Da schoß in froher Eil'
A shot in joyful haste


Die launische Forelle vorüber wie ein Pfeil
The capricious trout darted by like an arrow


Ich stand an dem Gestade
I stood at the shore


Und sah in süßer Ruh'
And saw in sweet tranquility


Des muntern Fischleins Bade
The lively little fish's bath


Im klaren Bächlein zu
In the clear little stream


Ein Fischer mit der Rute
A fisherman with his rod


Wohl an dem Ufer stand
Stood by the bank


Und sah's mit kaltem Blute
And watched it with cold blood


Wie sich das Fischlein wand
How the little fish swam around


So lang dem Wasser Helle
As long as the water was bright


So dacht ich, nicht gebricht
So I thought, nothing is lacking


So fängt er die Forelle
So he catches the trout


Mit seiner Angel nicht
But not with his fishing rod


Doch endlich ward dem Diebe die Zeit zu lang
But finally, the thief got impatient


Er macht' das Bächlein tückisch trübe
He made the stream treacherously murky


Und eh ich es gedacht
And before I knew it


So zuckte seine Rute, das Fischlein
His rod twitched, the little fish


Das Fischlein zappelt dran
The little fish wriggled on it


Und ich mit regem Blute, sah die Betrogene an
And with active blood, I looked at the deceived one


Die ihr am goldenen Quelle
You who dwell by the golden spring


Der sicheren Jugend weilt
Of secure youthfulness


Denkt doch an die Forelle
Think of the trout


Seht ihr Gefahr, so eilt!
If you see danger, hurry!


Meist fehlt ihr nur aus Mangel
Mostly you lack only


Der Klugheit, Mädchen, seht
Wisdom, girls, see


Verführer mit der Angel!
Seducers with the fishing rod!


Sonst blutet ihr zu spät!
Otherwise, you'll bleed too late!




Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@MasterofGalaxies4628

Along a tiny river,
I saw it swimming fast:
A small, capricious trout, like
An arrow shooting past.

I stood along the shoreline,
And watched in blissful peace
The cheery fish's bathing
Which seemed to never cease.

Alas, we weren't alone, though.
For further down the brook,
A less-than-noble fisher
Had out his rod and hook.

But while the streamlet's water
Stayed crystal-clear, I thought
This lithe and nimble trout would
Not by him be caught.

But soon the thief grew tired;
He'd wait no more.
He took his hands, stirred up the mud,
And there, right at the shore,

His line had started twitching;
He'd caught my swimming friend!
(And) I stared as my blood boiled at
The fish's tragic end.



@GOPMC

It wasn't. The fish is metaphor for young girls (Forelle=Fräulein) and is a warning against getting "lured" by men. :-) Scubert removed the last verse of the original poem: 
You who tarry by the golden spring
Of secure youth,
Think still of the trout:
If you see danger, hurry by!
Most of you err only from lack
Of cleverness. Girls, see
Seducers with their tackle!
Or else, too late, you'll bleed.



All comments from YouTube:

@LunaTheStars

WE MAKING IT OUT OF THE DRYER WITH THIS ONE 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

@BrandonMcBadass

🤣🤣🤣

@huesosnyak

the best decision ever

@chelseabreakersazcakery3645

😂

@jenniferlee9577

i love how so many people thought their washing machine song was so calming that they wanted to listen to it separately

@intelboydj1

That is Samsung

@maxul5311

En Argentina ahora está la polémica por la melodía, que se parece a la marcha peronista.

@Paulxl

@@maxul5311 Esta canción es anterior. Que es de 1817. jejeje

@sleepygeekyandreadytodream...y

we got a new dryer recently that sings this song, and when i heard it for the first time i recognized it as the song a friend in high school sung for (what i think was) a scholarship thingy.
I remembered her telling me it was a song about an angry fish, so i looked up german song about fish and it led me here

@djrival819

@@sleepygeekyandreadytodream...y nothing to do with calmness, only curiousness.

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