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Der Alte O Jüngling! sei so ruchlos nicht, Und leugne die Gespenster. Ich selbst sah eins beim Mondenlicht Aus meinem Kammerfenster, Das saß auf einem Leichenstein, Drum müssen [wohl]1 Gespenster sein. Der Jüngling Ich wende nichts dawider ein; Es [müssen]2 wohl Gespenster sein. Der Alte Als meiner Schwester Sohn verschied, Das sind nunmehr zehn Jahre! Sah seine Magd, die trefflich sieht, Des Abends eine Bahre, Und oben drauf ein Totenbein: Drum müssen [wohl]1 Gespenster sein. Der Jüngling Ich wende nichts dawider ein; Es [müssen]2 wohl Gespenster sein. Der Alte Und als mein Freund im Treffen blieb, Das Frankreich jüngst verloren, Hört seine Frau, wie sie mir schrieb, Mit ihren eignen Ohren Zu Mitternacht drei Eulen schrein: Drum müssen [wohl]1 Gespenster sein. Der Jüngling Ich wende nichts dawider ein; Es [müssen]2 wohl Gespenster sein. Der Alte In meinem Keller selbst gehts um. Ich hör oft ein Gesause; Doch werden die Gespenster stumm, Ist nur mein Sohn zu Hause. Denk nur, sie saufen meinen Wein: Das müssen [wohl]1 Gespenster sein. Der Jüngling Ich wende nichts dawider ein; Doch wünscht ich eins davon zu sein. Der Alte Auch weiß ich nicht, was manche Nacht In meiner Tochter Kammer Sein Wesen hat, bald seufzt, bald lacht; Oft bringt mirs Angst und Jammer. Ich weiß das Mädchen schläft allein; Drum müssen es Gespenster sein. Der Jüngling Ich wende nichts dawider ein; Doch wünscht ich ihr Gespenst zu sein.
1 "ja" in Bach
2 "können" in Bach
Authorship:
- by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729 - 1781), "Die Gespenster", appears in Lieder [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 Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732 - 1795), "Die Gespenster" [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "The Ghosts", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-11-19
Line count: 50
Word count: 233
The old one O young one! Don’t be so headstrong, And deny there are ghosts. I myself saw one by moonlight Through my chamber window, Sitting on a tombstone; So, there indeed must be ghosts. The young one I don’t dispute that; There indeed must be ghosts. The old one When my sister’s son passed away - That was ten years ago already! His maid, who sees very well, Saw a bier one evening, And on top, a dead man’s leg: So, there indeed must be ghosts. The young one I don’t dispute that; There indeed must be ghosts. The old one And when my friend was lost recently In the conflict in France, His wife heard, as she wrote to me, With her own ears - Three owls screech at midnight: So, there indeed must be ghosts. The young one I don’t dispute that; There indeed must be ghosts. The old one In my own cellar, I often hear a whispering; And then the ghosts become silent When only my son is at home. Just imagine, they’re drinking my wine: So, there indeed must be ghosts. The young one I don’t dispute that; Indeed, I would like to be one. The old one Also, some nights, I do not know What is going on in my daughter’s room, Sometimes sighing, sometimes laughing; It often brings me fear and torment. I know that the girl sleeps alone; So, there indeed must be ghosts. The young one I don’t dispute that; Indeed, I would like to be her ghost.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729 - 1781), "Die Gespenster", appears in Lieder
This text was added to the website: 2023-04-08
Line count: 50
Word count: 258