I have set my ambition on nothing at all,
          Hurray!
Hence I am so content in the world;
          Hurray!
And whoever wishes to be my comrade
May clink glasses with me, may join in the song
At the dregs of this wine. 

I set my ambition on money and possessions,
          Hurray!
As a result, I lost happiness and courage,
          Oh woe!
The coin rolled hither and yon,
And if I managed to grasp it at one place,
At another it was gone.

I next set my ambition on women,
          Hurray!
From that there came much misfortune for me,
          Oh woe!
The false one was after something else,
The faithful one bored me,
The best one was not available.

I set my ambition on trips and journeys,
          Hurray!
And left the people of my own kind;
          Oh woe!
And nowhere did I feel quite comfortable,
The food was strange, the beds were bad,
No one quite understood me.

I set my ambition upon fame and honour,
          Hurray!
And lo, immediately someone else had more;
          Oh woe!
As I had put myself forward,
The people looked at me askance,
In nobody’s view had I done right.

I set my ambition upon battles and war,
          Hurray!
And we attained many a victory;
          Hurray!
We marched into the foe's land,
For friends things did not go much better,
And I, I lost a leg.

Now I have set my ambition on nothing at all,
          Hurray!
And the whole world belongs to me;
          Hurray!
Singing and feasting are now drawing to a close;
Only drink up all the dregs,
The last one must come out!