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Das Mägdlein will ein' Freier habn, Und sollt' sie'n aus der Erde grabn, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Sie grub wohl ein, sie grub wohl aus Und grub nur einen Schreiber heraus, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Der Schreiber hatt' des Gelds zu viel, Er kauft dem Mädchen, was sie will, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Er kauft ihr einen Gürtel schmal, Der starrt von Gold wohl überall, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Er kauft ihr einen breiten Hut, Der wär' wohl für die Sonne gut, Für funfzehn Pfennige. [Der Schreiber]1: Wohl für die Sonn', wohl für den Wind, Bleib du bei mir, mein liebes Kind, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Bleibst du bei mir, bleib' ich bei dir, All meine Güter schenk' ich dir, Sind funfzehn Pfennige. [Mägdlein]2: Behalt dein Gut, laß mir [mein'n]3 Mut, Kein' andre [leicht]4 dich nehmen tut, Für funfzehn Pfennige. [Schreiber]5: Dein' guten Mut, den mag ich nicht, Hast traun von treuer Liebe nicht, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Dein Herz ist wie ein Taubenhaus, [Fliegt]6 einer nein, der andre aus, Für funfzehn Pfennige.
Confirmed with a 1906 reprint of Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano, Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Alte deutsche Lieder, gesammelt von Heidelberg: beÿ Mohr u. Zimmer, Frankfurt: beÿ J.C.B. Mohr, 1806, page 212. The reprint was published in Leipzig by Hesse & Becker Verlag and edited by Eduard Grisebach.
Note: [sic] for the spelling of "funfzehn"1 Strauss: "Der Schreiber (zärtlich, schmachtend)"
2 Strauss: "Mägdlein (schnelle und schnippisch)"
3 Strauss: "mein"
4 Strauss: "doch"
5 Strauss: "Der Schreiber (ebenso rasch)"
6 Strauss: "Geht"
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Für funfzehn Pfennige", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, from [author's text checked 1 time 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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Für funfzehn Pfennige", op. 36 (Vier Lieder für 1 hohe Stimme -- für 1 tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], München, Aibl Verlag [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Voor dertien dubbeltjes", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "For fifteen cents", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "And all for half-a-crown", first published 1898
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Pour quinze sous", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Lau Kanen [Guest Editor] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 33
Word count: 168
The maiden wants a suitor, Even if she has to dig him out, For fifteen cents. The bailiff has a lot of cash, He grants her ev'ry wish For fifteen cents. He buys her a fine belt, Of purest gold it is, For fifteen cents. He buys her a wide hat, To shield her from the sun, For fifteen cents. Bailiff To shield you from the sun, the wind, Stay with me, dearest child For fifteen cents. You are mine, I am yours, All that's mine I give to you, It's fifteen cents. Keep your riches, leave me my freedom, None other will have you For fifteen cents. Bailiff Your freedom, it is gladly yours As you don't know true love For fifteen cents. Your heart is like a dovecot, They come and go, For fifteen cents.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Linda Godry, (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 German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Für funfzehn Pfennige", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, from
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-22
Line count: 29
Word count: 137