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Es kommt am Himmelsbogen Der gelbe Mond gezogen, Der giebt so klaren Schein. Hört zu, wie ich berichte Die schaurige Geschichte Vom faulen Mägdelein: Es war einmal ein Mädchen, Dem war das Spinnerädchen Und Flachs und Hanf ein Greul. Sie wollte tanzen immer Des Nachts bei Mondenschimmer Mit Fledermaus und Eul'. Da kam der Mond gegangen Und thät beim Röcklein fangen Die lustbethörte Maid. Im Mondsaal sitzt sie drinnen, Und spinnen muss sie, spinnen In alle Ewigkeit. Die Jugend heutzutage Hält nichts auf fromme Sage Und ist des Glaubens bar. Drum wird dies Lied nichts helfen Bei reigenlust'gen Elfen. Das ist mir sonnenklar. Und stände ein Gewimmel Von Monden an dem Himmel, Wo nur ein einz'ger flammt, Ich wüsste wohl ein Städtchen, Das kann mit lust'gen Mädchen Bevölkern allesammt.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 28-29.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Die Spinnerin im Mond", appears in Spielmannslieder [author's text checked 2 times 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 Richard Johann Eichberg (1855 - 1919), "Vom faulen Mägdelein", op. 22 [ three-part women's chorus (or trio) and piano ], Leipzig : Rob. Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Die Spinnerin im Monde", op. 8 no. 2, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], from Spielmannslieder von Rudolf Baumbach, no. 2, Berlin, Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-29
Line count: 30
Word count: 129
Upon the arch of heaven The yellow moon comes along With such a clear radiance. Listen, while I tell The frightening story Of the lazy maiden. There once was a maiden Who found her spinning-wheel, And flax and fibre horrible. She wanted to dance all the time At night in the shimmer of the moon With bat and owl. The moon came along And caught her by the skirt, The maiden besotted with pleasure. She sits inside the moon-hall, And she must spin, spin In all eternity. The young folks nowadays Do not pay attention to pious legends And have no faith at all. Therefore, this song shall be of no help To dance-crazy elves. That is crystal-clear to me. And if there were a swarm Of moons upon the heavens, Where now only one shines, I know a certain city That could supply merry maidens To populate all of the moons.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Die Spinnerin im Mond" = "The spinning maiden in the moon"
"Die Spinnerin im Monde" = "The spinning maiden in the moon"
"Vom faulen Mägdelein" = "About the lazy maiden"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Die Spinnerin im Mond", appears in Spielmannslieder
This text was added to the website: 2020-08-28
Line count: 30
Word count: 152