Lütt Vagel, lütt Vagel,
wo büst du hüt west?
Ick künn di nich finn’.
Wier leddig dien Nest.
Wind hett mi anlagen.
Hei störmt dörch dat Land.
Wind hett mi bedragen.
Ick bün nu von Sinn’.

Mit Harwst nu, mit Harwst nu,
de Treckeltied is,
Wo kann ick di finn’,
un wat ward mi wiss?
Noch will’k nich vertagen.
Nah di langt mien Hand.
Wo büst du henflagen...?
So bleik all de Sünn!

De Kuckuck, de Kuckuck!
Dat hett so sien müsst.
Denn’ möt ick nich finn’.
Wen hett sei denn küsst’?
Frömd’ Nest hett s’ bedragen
un nahst knep sei ut.
Un liekers kein Klagen. –
Möt Klauk dor in finn’.

Dor trecken sei hen
hoch baben an’n Häben,
de Wippstiert un Draussel,
Frieheit ehr Läben.
Denn’ Tunkrüper is
dit all’ einerlei.
De weit sick tau helpen,
drömt bald in’n Snei.
Un ick heff em söcht.
Glück hett hei mi bröcht.
Wo schön Fru Nachtigall
eins för mi süng’
un liesen Treckeltied
säut in mi klüng’!
Wind häwt Vagel-Flüchten.
Ick swäw in Gedichten.
Un schön is’t, wat noch. –
Jedein flüggt giern hoch.

I say, little birdie,
Where were you today?
I looked in your nest.
You had flown away.
Wind did deceive me.
It storms overland.
Wind made you leave me.
I’m mad and depressed.

It’s autumn now—autumn,
The season of flight.
Now where can I find you?
You’ve flown out of sight.
I’ll not yet despair.
But where have you gone?
All I grasp at is air
In the sun’s fading hue.

The cuckoo, the cuckoo,
That roguish, old cheat!
There’s no need to find her.
What was her deceit?
The nest of a stranger
She usurped and was off.
Of sorrow no danger.
No sense in a whim.

Look there, how they go
High up in the sky,
Wagtail and Robin!
In freedom they fly.
But Wren doesn’t care.
He stays down below.
He doesn’t fear winter
But daydreams in snow.
It’s him I had sought.
Good luck he has brought.
How prettily Nightingale
Once sang for me
As the season of flight
Stirred sweetly in me!
Wind carries up birds’ wings.
Euterpe’s sweet voice sings.
Everyone loves to fly
Far away and up high.