Niemand | Ich hab mein Weib allein

by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

Translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858)

Nobody

Language: Scottish (Scots)

I hae a wife o' my ain,
I'll partake wi' naebody;
I'll tak Cuckold frae nane,
I'll gie Cuckold to naebody. -

I hae a penny to spend,
There, thanks to naebody;
I hae naething to lend,
I'll borrow frae naebody. -

I am naebody's lord,
I'll be slave to naebody;
I hae a gude braid sword,
I'll take dunts frae naebody. -

I'll be merry and free,
I'll be sad for naebody;
Naebody cares for me,
I care for naebody. -

Text Authorship:

by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Nobody" [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):

[ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858) , "Niemand" ; composed by Robert Schumann.
Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Georg Vierling.

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

CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Nikomu"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Niemand

Language: German (Deutsch) after the Scottish (Scots)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

  Ich hab mein Weib allein
Und theil' es, traun! mit Niemand;
Nicht Hahnrei will ich sein,
Zum Hahnrei mach' ich Niemand.
Ein Säckchen Gold ist mein,
Doch -- dafür dank' ich Niemand;
Nicht's hab' ich zu verleihn,
Und borgen soll mir Niemand.

  Ich bin nicht Andrer Herr,
Und unterthänig Niemand;
Doch meine Klinge sticht,
Ich fürchte mich vor Niemand.
Ein lustger Kauz bin ich,
Kopfhängerisch mit Niemand;
Schiert Niemand sich um mich,
So scheer' ich mich um Niemand.

Confirmed with Robert Burns’ Gedichte, deutsch von W. Gerhard, Leipzig: Verlag von Joh. Ambr. Barth., 1840, page 172

Text Authorship:

by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Niemand" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Nobody"
- Go to the text page.

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

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Niemand", op. 25 no. 22 (1840), published 1840 [voice and piano], from Myrten, no. 22, Leipzig, Kistner [ sung text verified 1 time]

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

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 78