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Wozu ist mein langes Haar mir dann, wenn ich kein Band drein flechten kann? Wozu ist mein Füßchen mir flink und fein, darf tanzen ich nicht mit dem Liebsten mein? Wozu ist mir nur die weiße Hand, darf ich nicht halten den Liebsten umspannt? Wozu mein Aug mir so schwarz und [so]1 scharf, wenns nicht mehr den Liebsten erspähen darf? Wozu sind mir die Gedanken mein? Zu denken, mein Liebster, allimmer dein!
1 omitted by Grimm.
Text Authorship:
- by Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Fragen", op. 44 (Zwölf Lieder und Romanzen für Frauenchor a capella oder mit willk. Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4 (1860), published 1867 [ SSAA chorus with optional piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 2 times]
- by Julius Otto Grimm (1827 - 1903), "Fragen", op. 11 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1866 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Preguntes", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Vragen", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Vragen", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Kelly Dean Hansen) , "Questions", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Questions", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-08-29
Line count: 10
Word count: 73
For what do I have such long hair If I cannot braid a ribbon into it? For what is my little foot so nimble and delicate If I may not dance with my lover? For what is my hand so white If I may not hold my lover in an embrace? For what is my eye so dark and keen If it may not look at my lover? For what are my thoughts my own If they think, my beloved, upon thee all the time?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Kelly Dean Hansen, (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 Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876)
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-22
Line count: 10
Word count: 85