by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
Translation Singable translation by Addie Funk (flourished 1886-1929)
Was fang' ich an?
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ach, wo ich gerne bin, Da soll ich nimmer hin, Und wo ich bleiben muß, Da hab ich nur Verdruß. Nach dem Walde soll ich nicht, In den Garten mag ich nicht, In der Stube bleib' ich nicht - Was fang' ich an? Ach, in dem Wald allein, Da kann man lustig sein; Da grünt es überall, Da singt die Nachtigall. Mutter, laß mich gehn hinaus, In den grünen Wald hinaus! Einen schönen Blumenstrauß, Den bring' ich dir. Könnt' ich ein Vogel sein, Flög' ich in Wald hinein, Zur reinen Maienluft, Zum frischen Laubesduft! Nach dem Walde soll ich nicht, In den Garten mag ich nicht, In der Stube bleib' ich nicht - Was fang' ich an?
Text Authorship:
- by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Was fang' ich an?" [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 Leo Blech (1871 - 1958), "Was fang' ich an?", op. 21 no. 4, copyright © 1913 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Liedchen großen und kleinen Kindern vorzusingen, Erste Folge, no. 4, Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Friedrich) August Bungert (1845 - 1915), "Was fang ich an", op. 43 no. 4, published 1874 [ voice and piano ], from Kinderleben. [Sechs] Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Creuznach, Gebr. Wolff [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Eggers (1835 - 1861), "Was fang' ich an" [ voice and piano ], from Nachgelassene Lieder und Gesänge, Heft 3: 8 Lieder aus der Kinderwelt und Kindheit, v. Hoffmann v. Fallersleben, no. 8, Rostock, Wessel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Louis Schlottmann (1826 - 1905), "Was fang ich an?", op. 17 (Zwölf Lieder im Volkston für gemischten Chor) no. 6, published 1867 [ SATB chorus ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Addie Funk) , "What shall I do"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 115
What shall I do
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Ah, where I'd love to be, That is forbidden me, And where I have to be, That only vexes me. To the forest may I not, For the garden care I not, In the room remain I'll not - What shall I do? Ah, in the forest free Only can happy be, There green is all around And songs of birds resound. Mother, outdoors let me go, To the verdant forest go, Bunch of fairest flow'rs that blow I'll bring to thee! Could but a bird be I, Would to the forest fly, Fresh blow May zephyrs there And fragrance fills the air! To the forest may I not, For the garden care I not, In the room remain I'll not - What shall I do?
From the Blech score.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Addie Funk (flourished 1886-1929), "What shall I do" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Was fang' ich an?"
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: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-29
Line count: 24
Word count: 124