Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Als ich meinem Mann die Treue schwur. Da dacht ich nicht dran im Moment, Daß ich ihn aus den Augen verlieren Und sein Gesicht vergessen könnt. Und als ich ihm zwei Kinder gebar Da hatt ich mir nicht vorgestellt Daß mich mein Mann verlassen würd Und zög für den Kaiser ins Feld. Als ich mich ihm verschrieben Da war es nicht so gemeint Daß ich nicht zu essen hätte Und er schlüg des Kaisers Feind. Die einen solchen Krieg anstiften Die müßte man am Kopfe haun Daß sie sich die Menschen künftig Etwas besser anschaun.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Die Gedichte von Bertolt Brecht in einem Band, neunte Auflage, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1997, page 396.
Text Authorship:
- by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956), "Lied der Kriegerwitwe", appears in Zu dem Stück »Kamrad Kaspar« [author's text checked 1 time 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 Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "Lied der Mariken", 1930-32, published 1959, first performed 1932 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: VEB Breitkopf & Härtel, [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (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: 2025-01-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 95
When I swore faithfulness to my husband, I did not think in that moment That I could lose sight of him And could forget his face. And when I bore him two children I did not imagine That my husband would leave me And go into the battlefield for the Emperor. When I dedicated myself to him I did not intend That I would have nothing to eat And that he would vanquish the Emperor's enemies. Those who incite such a war, One should hit them over the head So that in future they would Take a somewhat closer look at the people.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Lied der Kriegerwitwe" = "Song of the soldier's widow"
"Lied der Mariken" = "Song of Mariken"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956), "Lied der Kriegerwitwe", appears in Zu dem Stück »Kamrad Kaspar«
This text was added to the website: 2025-01-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 103