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Wozu ist mein langes Haar mir dann, wenn ich kein Band drein flechten kann? Wozu ist mein Füßchen mir flink und fein, darf tanzen ich nicht mit dem Liebsten mein? Wozu ist mir nur die weiße Hand, darf ich nicht halten den Liebsten umspannt? Wozu mein Aug mir so schwarz und [so]1 scharf, wenns nicht mehr den Liebsten erspähen darf? Wozu sind mir die Gedanken mein? Zu denken, mein Liebster, allimmer dein!
1 omitted by Grimm.
Text Authorship:
- by Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Fragen", op. 44 (Zwölf Lieder und Romanzen für Frauenchor a capella oder mit willk. Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4 (1860), published 1867 [ SSAA chorus with optional piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 2 times]
- by Julius Otto Grimm (1827 - 1903), "Fragen", op. 11 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1866 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Preguntes", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Vragen", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Vragen", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Kelly Dean Hansen) , "Questions", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Questions", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-08-29
Line count: 10
Word count: 73
Waarvoor dient mijn lange haar mij dan, Als ik geen band d'rin vlechten kan? Waarvoor is mijn voetje zo rap en klein, Als 'k dansen niet mag met mijn liefste fijn? Waarvoor heb ik toch mijn blanke hand, Als ik moet laten mijn vriend aan de kant? Waarvoor is mijn oog toch zo zwart en zo fel, Tenzij 'k daarmee zien kan mijn liefste wel? Waartoe heb ik mijn gedachten nou? 'k Wil denken, mijn liefste, altijd aan jou!
Note for line 10: "altijd aan jou!" - Bij Brahms wordt op het einde deze frase op verschillende manieren herhaald.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2015 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876)
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-16
Line count: 10
Word count: 79
