Elfenlied

This article is about the poem by Eduard Mörike. For the Japanese manga and anime series, see Elfen Lied.

"Elfenlied" (lit. "elf song") is a poem written in German by Eduard Mörike that was adapted into a lied by Hugo Wolf.

The poem

In German Bei Nacht im Dorf der Wächter rief: Elfe! Ein ganz kleines Elfchen im Walde schlief wohl um die Elfe! Und meint, es rief ihm aus dem Tal bei seinem Namen die Nachtigall, oder Silpelit hätt' ihm gerufen. Reibt sich der Elf' die Augen aus, begibt sich vor sein Schneckenhaus und ist als wie ein trunken Mann, sein Schläflein war nicht voll getan, und humpelt also tippe tapp durch's Haselholz in's Tal hinab, schlupft an der Mauer hin so dicht, da sitzt der Glühwurm Licht an Licht. Was sind das helle Fensterlein? Da drin wird eine Hochzeit sein: die Kleinen sitzen bei'm Mahle, und treiben's in dem Saale. Da guck' ich wohl ein wenig 'nein!« Pfui, stößt den Kopf an harten Stein! Elfe, gelt, du hast genug? Gukuk!

Translation At night in the village the watchman cried "Elf!"(english meaning "elf" like a fairy or sprite) A very small elf was asleep in the wood – just around the eleven! – And he thinks that the nightingale must have called him by name from the valley, or Silpelit might have sent for him. So the elf rubs his eyes, comes out of his snail-shell house, and is like a drunken man, his nap was not finished; and he hobbles down, tip tap, through the hazel wood into the valley, slips right up to the wall; there sits the glow-worm, light on light. "What are those bright windows? There must be a wedding inside; the little people are sitting at the feast, and fooling around in the ballroom. So I'll just take a peep in!" Shame! he hits his head on hard stone! Well, elf, had enough, have you? Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Notes

^1 In German elf also means "eleven", "wohl um die Elfe" => "just at eleven"
^2 Silpelit is a character's name from a Mörike's masterpiece, "Eduard auf dem Seil"

Elfen Lied

The majority of the song or poem entitled "Lilium" is included within the opening theme of the successful anime series Elfen Lied but is a Latin song, not to be confused with this German poem.

A sung version of this poem ("Elfenlied") appears in the original manga; however, no reference to the Latin "Lilium" is made.

References

Wordreference