Full Lyrics
How bright in the May time
Is freedom, is playtime,
The forest, how bright!
One's path gaily shaping,
The city escaping
To some breezy height.
In hedgebraid ed meadows,
Where cool welcome shadows
With sun flecks are blent,
Down lazily sinking,
Deliciously drinking
The lilac's rich scent.
Then onward one passes,
Plucks wild flowers and grasses,
And strawberries sweet;
Fresh green boughs selecting,
Our faces protecting
From dust and from heat.
Now heedlessly wander,
Now pausing to ponder,
The streamlet beside;
Half dreaming, half waking,
We watch the waves breaking,
As softly they glide.
No porter to warn us,
No gardener to scorn us,
With threatening call.
Here gold is not wanting,
The field flowers enchanting,
Are common to all.
O freedom, how pleasant!
No despot is present
Sweet Nature to snare;
No falsehearted flatterer,
No talebearing chatterer,
Here poisons the air.
