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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Es ging sich unsre Fraue
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT FRE
Es ging sich unsre Fraue,
Der Herr erbarm' sich unser!
Des Morgens in dem Taue,
Der Herr erbarm' sich unser!
Da begegnet ihr ein Junge,
In seiner großen Güte!
Sein Bart war ihm einsprungen!
In seiner großen Güte!

"Wollst mir doch um dein Leben
Ein Almosen geben,
Gib mir das gülden Ringelein
Von deinem schönen Fingerlein."

Den Ring hat sie gegeben
Ihm um ihr junges Leben.
Der Junge zog in Krieg und Streit,
Gewann sich Ehr' und gute Beut'.

Er zog zur lust'gen Zeche
Mit seinen Brüdern freche.
Er schlug den Bruder überm Spiel,
Ging unter die Räuber wüste.

Ging unter die bösen Räuber
Und raubt zum Zeitvertreibe.
Dann ward er eingefangen
Und an den Galgen gehangen.

Der Räuber pocht ans Himmelstor.
"Wer pochet an, wer steht davor?
Ich hör' mein Ringlein an der Tür."
"Ein armer Sünder steht dafür!"

"Du trugst den Ring am Finger,
Er schützte dich Sünder immer,
Erschließet dir die Himmelstür,
Sonst müßt du bleiben gar dafür."
 
Wollst uns das ewige Leben,
O Königinne, geben.
Gib uns dein gülden Ringelein,
Dass  wir von Sünd' erlöset sein!

Notes: in Brahms' song, the second line of the first stanza is repeated as the second and fourth line in every stanza; and the sixth line of the first stanza is repeated as the sixth and eighth line of every stanza.

Note for stanza 7, line 3, word 1 : In Brahms' score we read 'Er schliesset', but I think this represents a slip of the pen: the author probably wrote 'erschliesset' (opens). It is very improbable that Our Lady's ring should close the door of heaven for the repentant man who had been protected by it during lifetime. --Lau Kanen, translator to Dutch.

Text Authorship:

  • from Volkslieder (Folksongs)  [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es ging sich unsre Fraue", WoO. 33 no. 47, published [1894], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 47, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Nostra Senyora caminava", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Eens liep de Lieve Vrouwe", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Notre Dame marchait", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Lau Kanen [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 180

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–Emily Ezust, Founder

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