by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
The old strain
Language: English
My pleasant home be side the Dee! I often sigh to think of thee, dear scenes of love and peace and ease, how diff'rent all from scenes like these! My soldier brave l've follow'd far but sicken at these sights of war. The nod at church, the conscious smile, The haste to help me at the stile, The pleasant walk at summer eve, The parting kiss at taking leave: O hours! That once with Tom were past, Dear happy hours! too sweet to last. Now converse short with Tom I hold; "Come, Sue" he cries, "ue'er fear the cold "The fare is scant - but never mind - "On, on my Sue, nor lag behind." And come what will, and come wat may, Poor Sue must be alert and gay. Yet Love, I know always cure The ills that we from Love endure; And Tom can with a single smile The weariest of my thoughts beguile, Dear pleasant home beside the Dee!! I must not - will not - thinks of thee.
Text Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849) [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 old strain", WoO. 155 (26 Walisische Lieder) no. 23, G. 226 no. 23, published 1810/2 [ voice, piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Georg Pertz) , "Das alte Lied"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-17
Line count: 28
Word count: 168
Das alte Lied
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
O süsser Heimathstrand des Dee, - wie oft beschwört die Phantasie mir dein versunk'nes Paradies, das ich um Leid vertauscht wie dies! Treu folgt' ich Tom zu Kampf und Sieg, doch o wie grauenvoll ist Krieg! Tom's Kirchgruss - sein bewusst Erglüh'n, Sein früh und spät um mich sich Müh'n, Des Sommerabends Stelldichein, Der Abschiedsktüsse süsse Pein, - O Zeit, die hold mit Tom verstrich, Zu hold, zu Währen ewiglich! Nun halten kurze Zwiesprach wir; "Komm" ruft er, "Frau! Was zagst du mir? Rauh ist der Pfad - doch mag es sein, Komm Frau, und schleich nicht hinterdrein!" Und flink muss und mit frohem Blick die arme Frau durch Dünn und Dick. Doch Lieb', ich weiss es, heilt und pflegt Die Wunden, die uns Liebe schlägt; Und Tom - mir kann ein einz'ger Blick Fortlächeln all mein Missgeschick! O süsser Strand der Heimat - nein, Ich darf nicht - will nicht denken dein!
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Das alte Lied" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
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: 2006-01-11
Line count: 28
Word count: 146