by Friedrich Hermann Frey (1839 - 1911), as Martin Greif
Translation Singable translation by Gwendolen Gore

Die Verlassene
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Denk' ich nach, was ich nun bin,
Seit er mich verlassen,
Tauscht mit mir kein' Bettlerin
Wahrlich auf [der]1 Straßen.

Tret' ich in die Kirchen ein,
Geht es ans Gedeute;
Donnert recht der Pfarrer drein,
Blinzeln alle Leute.

Geh' ich auf dem Bittgang mit,
Weichen sie zur Seiten.
Tanzen! Gott, mein Lebtag nit -
Das Gesichterschneiden!

Mach' ich, was ich machen will,
Niemand [thu']2 ich's rechte:
Trutzig heiß ich, wenn ich still,
Red' ich, heiß ich schlechte.

Abends kann ich vor der Thür'
Keine Stunde bleiben.
Noch am liebsten ist es mir
Meine Gänse treiben.

Komm' ich an der [Godel]3 Haus,
Muß ich mich verfärben -
Wollt', ich wär' zum Dorf hinaus
Oder könnte sterben.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Blumenthal 

J. Blumenthal sets stanzas 1, 3-4, 2, 6

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Blumenthal: "den"
2 Blumenthal: "mach'"
3 Blumenthal: "Gretel"

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English [singable] (Gwendolen Gore) , "Forsaken"


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2009-07-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 116

Forsaken
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
When I think of this my plight,
Since he has betrayed me,
Each one thinks he has the right,
Scoffing, to upbraid me.

In the church among the crowd,
There I dare not linger,
Hear the parson thunder loud,
See them point the finger.

To the fair if I should go,
All turn from me coldly,
Dancing? Oh in mercy no!
How should I look boldly?

I may do whate'er I will,
No one holds me blameless,
Sullen call me when I'm still,
Speak I, then I'm shameless.






When I see her cruel face
All my senses fly then
Would that I could leave this place,
Or that I could die then.

From the Blumenthal score. Note: the stanzas were rearranged to match the original poem.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2009-07-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 112