possibly by Ambrosius Metzger (1573 - 1632)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Spazieren wollt ich reiten
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
  Spazieren wollt ich reiten,
Der Liebsten vor die Thür,
Sie blickt nach mir von weitem,
Und sprach mit großen Freuden:
"Seht dort meines Herzens Zier,
"Wie trabt er her zu mir.
"Trab Rößlein trab,
"Trab für und für."

  Den Zaum, den ließ ich schiessen,
Und sprengte hin zu ihr,
Und thät sie freundlich grüssen,
Und sprach mit Worten süß:
"Mein Schatz, mein höchste Zier,
"Was macht ihr vor der Thür?
"Trab Rößlein trab,
"Trab her zu ihr."

  Vom Rößlein mein ich sprange,
Und band es an die Thür,
Thät freundlich sie umfangen,
Die Zeit ward uns nicht lange,
In Garten gingen wir
Mit liebender Begier;
Trab Rößlein trab,
Trab leis herfür. 

  Wir sezten uns da nieder
Wohl in das grüne Gras,
Und sangen hin und wieder
Die alten Liebeslieder,
Bis uns die Äuglein naß,
Wegen der Kläffer Haß.
Trab Rößlein trab,
Trab, trab fürbaß.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Brahms •   F. Kücken •   B. Schädel •   L. Thuille 

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Confirmed with F.A. Pischon, Denkmäler der deutschen Sprache von den frühesten Zeiten bis jetzt, Zweiter Theil, Berlin: Verlag von Duncker und Humblot, 1840, page 325. Also appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn as a Volkslied.


Text Authorship:

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Harry Joelson , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 168

I wanted to go a‑riding
NOTE: the footnotes have been removed from this text; return to general view
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  I wanted to go a-riding,
To arrive before the door of my beloved,
She is looking for me from afar,
And says with great joy:
"See yonder the adornment of my heart,
How he is trotting toward me.
Trot, dear horse, trot,
Trot on and on."

  The rein, I let it free,
And shot off to her,
And I greeted her in a friendly manner,
And spoke with sweet words:
"My treasure, my greatest adornment,
What are you doing in front of the door?
Trot, dear horse, trot,
Trot over to her."

  I sprang from the horse of mine,
And tied it to the door,
Joyfully I embraced her,
Time did not hang heavy on our hands,
We walked in the garden
With loving desire;
Trot, dear horse, trot,
Trot softly forth.

  We sat down
In the green grass,
And sang, every now and then,
The old love songs,
Until our eyes were wet with tears,
Because of the hatred of the yappers
Trot, dear horse, trot,
Trot, trot on your way.

About the headline (FAQ)

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Translations of title(s):
"Altes Liebeslied" = "Old love songs"
"Von alten Liebesliedern" = "Of old love songs"


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Sharon Krebs, (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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This text was added to the website: 2017-11-24
Line count: 32
Word count: 183