Harold’s wish | Oh were I a rich prince

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by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

O wär' ich ein reicher Königssohn

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

O wär' ich ein reicher Königssohn
Mit einer Krone von Golde,
Dann stieg' ich auf's Roß und sprengte zu dir,
Du Unvergleichliche, Holde!

Dann sänk' ich zu deinen Füßen hin--
"Ich liebe dich mehr, als das Leben!
Wie teilt' ich so gern den Tron [sic] mit dir,
Wollt' Krone und Purpur dir geben!

"Und wenn du mich liebst, sollst du Königin sein
Von all meinen weiten Reichen,
Sollst stralen [sic] in Diamantenglanz,
Daß die Sterne vor dir erbleichen!"

Doch ach, -- ich habe nicht Gut, noch Gold,
Bin ärmer, als daß ich's beschriebe,--
Ich habe ja nichts, als ein treues Herz
Und unermeßliche Liebe.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Gustav Kastropp, König Elf’s Lieder. Eine lyrische Rhapsodie, Zweite Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1877, page 59

Text Authorship:

by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), no title, appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 3. Dritter Teil. Untreue, no. 58, first published 1875 [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 Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Harold's Wunsch", op. 8 (Fünf Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1890 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst Ludwig (1852 - 1925), "O wär' ich ein reicher Königssohn", op. 10 (Acht Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte), Heft 1 (4 Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran)) no. 2, published 1885 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Reichenberg, Schöpfer [sung text not yet checked]
by Julius Neugebauer , "O wär ich ein reicher Königssohn", op. 57 (Drei Lieder für 1 Männerstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1882 [ male voice and piano ], Breslau, Bial & Freund [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Harold’s wish", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2016-02-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 103

Harold’s wish

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Oh were I a rich prince
With a crown of gold,
Then I would mount my horse and rush to you,
You incomparable one, you lovely one!

Then I would sink down at your feet--
"I love you more than life itself!
How gladly I would share my throne with you,
Would give you crown and the royal purple!

"And if you love me, you shall be the queen
Of all my vast realms,
Shall gleam in the radiance of diamonds,
So that the stars pale before you!"

But alas, -- I have neither property nor gold,
I am poorer than I can describe it,--
I have nothing but a true heart
And infinite love.

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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), no title, appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 3. Dritter Teil. Untreue, no. 58, first published 1875
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2017-06-16
Line count: 16
Word count: 114