Song for the first of November

Allerseelen

Stell auf den Tisch
die duftenden Reseden,
Die letzten roten Astern trag herbei,
Und laß uns wieder von der Liebe reden,
Wie einst im Mai.

Gib mir die Hand, daß ich sie heimlich drücke
Und wenn man's sieht, mir ist es einerlei,
Gib mir nur einen deiner süßen Blicke,
Wie einst im Mai.

Es blüht und duftet heut auf jedem Grabe,
Ein Tag im Jahr ist ja den Toten frei,
Komm an mein Herz, daß ich dich wieder habe,
Wie einst im Mai.

Place on the table
the fragrant mignonettes,
Bring inside the last red asters,
and let us speak again of love,
as once we did in May.

Give me your hand,
so that I can press it secretly;
and if someone sees us, it's all the same to me.
Just give me your sweet gaze,
as once you did in May.

Flowers adorn today each grave,
sending off their fragrances;
one day in the year is free for the dead.
Come close to my heart, so that I can have you again,
as once I did in May.

His Strauss Lieder is still my favorite.  Perhaps I should provide a short explanation.  "One day in the year is free for the dead."  That would be November 1, All souls day or Allerseelen.  The dead live again.  In this case they want to experience each other together again.

I read today that All Souls Day was once in May, and over 1000 years ago it was moved to November.