Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
O cruel was my father
Language: English
O cruel was my father That shut the door on me. And cruel was my mother That such a thing could see. And cruel is the wintry wind That chills my heart with cold. But crueler than all, the lad, That left my love for gold. Hush, hush, my lovely Baby, And warm thee in my breast. Ah! Little thinks thy father How sadly we're distrest, For cruel as he is, Did he know but how we fare, He'd shield me in his arms From this bitter piercing air. Cold, cold, my dearest jewel! Thy little life is gone! O let my tears receive thee, So warm that trickle down! My tears that gush so warm, Oh, they freeze before they fall, Ah, wretched, wretched mother Thou art now bereft of all! Then down she sunk despairing Upon the drifted snow, And, wrung with killing anguish, Lamented loud her woe. She kiss'd her baby's pale lips And laid by her side; Then cast her eyes to heaven, Then bow'd her head, and died.
Text Authorship:
- by Alexander Ballantyne , "O cruel was my father" [author's text not yet checked 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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "O cruel was my father", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 15 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "O grausam war mein Vater"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 173
O grausam war mein Vater
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
O grausam war mein Vater Der mir sein Haus verschloß! Die Mutter, die es zusah, Wie ich in Schmerz zerfloß! Und grausam ist der Winterwind, Der Eis ans Herz mir blies! Doch grausamer als all'ist er, Der mich um Gold verließ! Husch, husch! Mein süßes Kindlein, Wärm dich an meiner Brust! Nicht ist wohl deinem Vater All unsre Not bewusst, Denn grausam wie er ist, Wüßt' er nur, wie uns es geht: Es schirmte uns sein Arm, Wenn so scharfer Nordwind weht. Kalt, kalt! Mein liebstes Kleinod! Dein kleines Leben schwand! Leb auf von heißen Tränen, Die Muttertreu' versandt! Doch weh mir, weh! Der glüh'nde Strom In rinnen schon gefror. O unglücksel'ge Mutter, Die hir Alles nur verlor! Verzweifelnd sank sie nieder In den getürmten Schnee, Und rang in Todesängsten, Und jammert'laut ihr Weh. Sie küßt' den bleichen Mund, Legt' das Kindlein neben sich, Erhob den Blick zu Gott, Neigte dann ihr Haupt, erblich.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "O grausam war mein Vater" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Alexander Ballantyne , "O cruel was my father"
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: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 155