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by John Philpot Curran (1750 - 1817)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)

The deserter
Language: English 
If sadly thinking and spirits sinking
Could more than drinking my cares compose;
A cure for sorrow from sighs I'd borrow,
And hope tomorrow might end my  woes.
But since in wailing there's nought availing,
And Fate unfailing must strike the blow:
Then for that reason and for a season,
We will be merry before we go.

A wayworn ranger to joy a stranger,
Through every danger my course I've run;
Now hope all ending, and death befriending,
His last aid sending, my cares are done,
No more a rover, or hapless lover,
My griefs are over, and my glass runs low.
Then for that reason and for a season,
We will be merry before we go.

Text Authorship:

  • by John Philpot Curran (1750 - 1817), "The deserter" [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), "The deserter", WoO. 152 (25 irische Lieder) no. 10, G. 223 no. 10 (1810/3) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Der deserteur"


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2004-12-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 117

Der deserteur
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Wenn mürrisch sprechen und Kopfzerbrechen
Mich mehr als Zechen könnt? trösten je;
Würd' ich für Sorgen mir Seufzer borgen,
Und hoffen, morgen vergeht dein Weh,
Weil aber Klagen nichts verschlagen,
Weil ich muß tragen des Schicksals Schlag:
Aus diesem Grinde soll die Sekunde
Mir lustig verstreichen am letzten Tag.

Nur Kampf beschieden war mir hienieden,
Es floh der Frieden mein Herz bis jetzt.
Mein Hoffen endet, der Tod nur wendet
Die Qual und spendet mir Trost zuletzt.
Was mir geblieben von Gram und Lieben,
Wird nun zerstieben mit einem Schlag.
Aus diesem Grunde soll die Sekunde
Mir lustig verstreichen am letzten Tag.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Der deserteur" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in English by John Philpot Curran (1750 - 1817), "The deserter"
    • 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):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2004-12-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 102

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