La Truite
Franz Schubert Lyrics

In these lyrics, the composer Franz Schubert tells a story about a playful trout that swims swiftly and cheerfully in a clear stream. The singer stands by the shore and observes the fish's joyful bathing in the sparkling water.

The first two lines introduce us to the scene: "In einem Bächlein helle, Da schoss in froher Eil'" ("In a bright little brook, There darted swiftly"). It paints a picture of a lively and energetic trout swimming swiftly like an arrow through the water. The playful and unpredictable nature of the fish is emphasized by the phrase "Die launische Forelle" ("The capricious trout").

The next lines describe the singer's tranquil observation of the fish's bathing, "Ich stand an dem Gestade und sah in süsser Ruh'" ("I stood on the shore and watched in sweet tranquility"). The clear stream provides a peaceful backdrop to the fish's activities. The repetition of "Des muntern Fishleins Bade im klaren Bächlein zu" reinforces the sense of serenity.

The story takes a turn when a fisherman appears on the scene. The lyrics say, "Ein Fischer mit der Rute wohl an dem Ufer stand" ("A fisherman with his rod stood by the bank"). The fisherman watches the trout with indifference, calculatedly waiting for the right moment to catch it. The phrase "So lang dem Wasser helle, So dacht' ich, nicht gebricht" ("As long as the water is clear, I thought, nothing will go wrong") suggests the singer's assumption that the trout is safe in the transparent water.

However, the fisherman becomes impatient, and in a treacherous move, muddies the water of the stream by disturbing the bottom. The singer realizes this too late when "so zuckte seine Rute, Das Fischlein, das Fischlein zappelt dran" ("his rod twitched, the fish, the fish is hooked"). The previously deceived trout is now writhing helplessly, and the singer feels a surge of empathy for the deceived fish, as reflected in the phrase "Und ich mit regem Blute sah die Betrog′ne an" ("And with a fervent blood, I watched the deceived one"). This final line leaves the listener with a sense of sadness or regret for the fate of the trout and a message about the consequences of deception.