by Johann Friedrich Kind (1768 - 1843)
Translation Singable translation by Natalie Macfarren (1826 - 1916)

Was hab' ich arme Dirn' gethan?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was hab' ich arme Dirn' gethan?
Die Leute sehn mich flüsternd an;
Kann ich dafür, daß süß im Wald
Der muntern Vöglein Lied erschallt?

Ich ging ja nur im Waldesgrün,
Und sah die muntern Vöglein ziehn;
Kann ich dafür, daß mich allda
Der schöne braune Knab' ersah?

Der schöne Knab', mit braunem Haar,
Bot Blumen mir und Waldbeer dar,
Und lachte mich so freundlich an.
Was hab' ich arme Dirn' gethan?

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English [singable] (Natalie Macfarren)


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Ah me, poor maid, what have I done?
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Ah me, poor maid, what have I done?
that friends, once kind, my glance should shun?
am I to blame, that all around
the merry songsters' lays resound?

I only sought the leafy grove
to hear the sweet birds sing above,
am I to blame, that on my way
I met a darkeyed boy that day?

The darkeyed boy from o'er the sea,
the fairest flow'rs he cull'd for me,
his smile was bright as ray of sun,
ah me, poor maid, what have I done?

About the headline (FAQ)

From the Bohm score.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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 ]


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 86