by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by Adolf Wilhelm Ernst von Winterfeld (1824 - 1888)
The rigs o' barley
Language: Scottish (Scots)
It was upon a Lammas night, When corn rigs are bonie, Beneath the moon's unclouded light, I held awa to Annie: The time flew by wi' tentless heed Till 'tween the late and early; Wi' sma' persuasion, she agreed To see me thro' the barley. The sky was blue, the wind was still, The moon was shining clearly: I set her down, wi' right good will, Amang the rigs o' barley: I ken't her heart was a' my ain: I lov'd her most sincerely; I kiss'd her owre and owre again, Amang the rigs o' barley. I lock'd her in my fond embrace; Her heart was beating rarely: My blessings on that happy place, Amang the rigs o' barley! But by the moon and stars so bright, That shone that hour so clearly! She ay shall bless that happy night, Amang the rigs o' barley. I ha'e been blythe wi' comrades dear; I hae been merry drinkin'; I hae been joyfu' gath'rin gear; I hae been happy thinking: But a' the pleasures e'er I saw, Tho' three times doubled fairly, That happy night was worth then a', Amang the rigs o' barley. Chorus Corn rigs, an' barley rigs, An' corn rigs are bonie: I'll ne'er forget that happy night, Amang the rigs wi' Annie.
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The rigs o' barley", written 1783 [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Adolf Wilhelm Ernst von Winterfeld (1824 - 1888) , "Die Gersten-Ähren" ; composed by Ignaz Brüll.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Ječné klasy"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 37
Word count: 214
Die Gersten‑Ähren
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Scottish (Scots)
’S war Petri-Kettenfeier Nacht, Wenn bleich des Kornes Ähren, Im Mondlicht schlich zum Lieb ich sacht, Zu Annie; wer will’s wehren!? Es floh die Zeit so ruhelos, Sie wollt’ mich erst nicht hören, Bis endlich sie sich doch entschloß, Zum Gang durch Gersten-Ähren. Blau war der Himmel, still der Wind, Der Mond schien, zum Beschweren, Als wir in’s Korn gesunken sind, Wohl in die Gersten-Ähren. Ich wußt, ihr Herz war gänzlich mein, Ich liebt’ sie, zum Verzehren Ich küßte sie beim Mondenschein, Wohl in den Gersten-Ähren. Ich schloß sie sanft in meinen Arm, Kaum war ihr Hauch zu hören. Gesegnet sei das Plätzchen warm, Wohl in den Gersten-Ähren. Doch, bei der hellen Sterne Pracht, Die mild uns Liebe lehren, Soll segnen sie, wie ich, die Nacht, In gelben Gersten-Ähren. Ich hab’ geschwelgt an Freundesbrust, Mocht’ Gläserklang wohl hören, An Geld und Schätzen fand ich Lust, Thät nie dem Frohsinn wehren. Doch alle Lust, die mir bekannt, Kann mir kein Glück bescheeren, Das nur ist Glück, was ich empfand, Wohl in den Gersten-Ähren.
Note: Petri-Kettenfeier Nacht: August 1st.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship:
- by Adolf Wilhelm Ernst von Winterfeld (1824 - 1888), "Die Gersten-Ähren" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "The rigs o' barley", written 1783
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ignaz Brüll (1846 - 1907), "Die Gersten-Ähren", op. 32 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-12-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 172