I'm a soldier, the protector of my land | I'm a soldier, the protector of my land

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Translation © by Joseph Ezust

Katona vagyok én

Language: Hungarian (Magyar)

Our translations: ENG

Katona vagyok én, ország őrezője,
Sír az éldes anyám, hogy elvisznek tőle,
Sír az éldes anyám, a rózsám meg gyászol,
Fekete gyászvirág búsul ablakába.

Falu legényei, kenyeres pajtásim,
Az Isten áldása szálljon le reátok,
Éljetek örömmel, mert én búval élek,
De az én rózsámat el ne szeressétek.

Megpendült harangom, pallérozott kardom,
Nem szabad énnékem az ágyban meghalnom!
Forgatom fegyverem vitézek módjára,
Áldozom éltemet az ország javára.

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 Zoltán Kodály (1882 - 1967), "Katona vagyok én", from Magyar Népzene VI = Hungarian Folk Music VI, no. 1. [ sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Joseph Ezust) , "I'm a soldier, the protector of my land", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

I'm a soldier, the protector of my land

Language: English after the Hungarian (Magyar)

I'm a soldier, the protector of my land;
My dear mother is frightened that they will take me away.
My sweet mother and my sweetheart will mourn for me,
Black crepe will be displayed in the window.

The village lads, my buddies, 
God's blessings be on your head.
Live in happiness while I'm alive,
But do not steal my beloved.

I will lose my voice, my arm will be paralyzed,
But I must not die in bed.
I will wield my weapon as a hero should,
And I'll sacrifice my life for my country.

Text Authorship:

Translation from Hungarian (Magyar) to English copyright © by Joseph Ezust, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in Hungarian (Magyar) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 94