"" or "" ("Rose on the Heath" or "Little Rose of the Field") is a poem by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

, published in 1789. It was written in 1771 during Goethe's stay in Strasbourg when he was in love with Friederike Brion, to whom the poem is addressed. The episode is the inspiration for

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is '' The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life and career L ...

's 1928 operetta ', which includes a setting of "" by Lehár. "" tells of a young man who sees a small rose on the heath and decides to pluck it, despite the rose's warning that she will stick him with her thorn so he will not forget his transgression. Nevertheless, the "wild" boy "breaks" the rose, who must bear the pain with no recourse. The text could be interpreted as the boy overcoming a girl (the rose) by force; she does not consent to this violation but he does not heed her protests. She must suffer the consequences. There is a companion poem by Goethe, "

Das Veilchen "" ("The Violet"), Köchel catalogue, K. 476, is a song for voice and piano by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written in Vienna on 8 June 1785, to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Lyrics Goethe wrote the poem in 1773 or early 1774. It was first p ...

", in which the man is represented by a violet.

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Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn, Röslein auf der Heiden, War so jung und morgenschön, Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn, Sah's mit vielen Freuden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Knabe sprach: "Ich breche dich, Röslein auf der Heiden." Röslein sprach: "Ich steche dich, Dass du ewig denkst an mich, Und ich will's nicht leiden." Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Und der wilde Knabe brach 's Röslein auf der Heiden; Röslein wehrte sich und stach, Half ihr"ihm" in Schubert's composition doch kein Weh und Ach, Musste"musst" in Schubert's composition es eben leiden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden. Literal translation A boy saw a little rose standing, Little rose on the heath, Was so young and morning-pretty, He ran quickly to see it near, Saw it with much joy, Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. Boy said: "I'll break you, Little rose on the heath." Little rose said: "I'll prick you, That you forever think of me, And I'll not want to suffer it." Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. And the wild boy broke The little rose on the heath; Little rose defended herself and pricked, Saved her though no pain or woe, Had to suffer it anyway. Little rose, little rose, little rose red, Little rose on the heath. Bowring translation Once a boy a Rosebud spied, Heathrose fair and tender, All array'd in youthful pride,– Quickly to the spot he hied, Ravished by her splendour. Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender! Said the boy, "I'll now pick thee, Heathrose fair and tender!" Said the rosebud, "I'll prick thee, So that thou'lt remember me, Ne'er will I surrender!" Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender! Now the cruel boy must pick Heathrose fair and tender; Rosebud did her best to prick,– Vain 'twas 'gainst her fate to kick– She must needs surrender. Rosebud, rosebud, rosebud red, Heathrose fair and tender!, citing a translation by Edgar Alfred Bowring from 1853

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It has been set to music by a number of composers, most notably in 1815 by

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

as his D. 257. Schubert's setting is partially based on Pamina's and Papageno's duet "" from the end of act 1 of Mozart's ''

The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...

''. The 1829 setting by Heinrich Werner (below) became a popular folk song. \new Staff << \new Voice \relative c' \addlyrics >>

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* * *, Peter Schreier, Rudolf Buchbinder {{DEFAULTSORT:Heidenroslein Poetry by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Lieder composed by Franz Schubert 1771 poems 1815 songs Musical settings of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Volkslied