English translations of Vier fröhliche Lieder für Bass-Stimme mit Pianoforte, opus 47

by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914)

1. Orakel  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Orakel", op. 47 (Vier fröhliche Lieder für Bass-Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1882 [ bass and piano ], Zürich, Hug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Eine Frage quält mich bass,
Macht mir Kopfzerbrechen:
Bleib ich heut' beim Tintenfass,
Oder geh' ich zechen ?
Hei, da muss ich doch einmal
Das Orakel fragen.
Meiner Nestelknöpfe Zahl
Wird mir Kunde sagen.

Soll ich gehen oder nicht?
  Knopf spricht: "Geh'n!"
Was des Schicksals Stimme spricht,
  Muss gescheh'n.

Noch ein Andres quält mich recht,
Macht mir viele Sorgen:
Zahl' ich heut' im blauen Hecht,
Oder soll ich borgen?
Hei, da muss ich doch einmal
Das Orakel fragen.
Meiner Nestelknöpfe Zahl
Wird mir Kunde sagen.

Zahl' ich, oder zahl' ich nicht?
  Knopf sagt: "Nein!" 
Was des Schicksals Stimme spricht,
  Das muss sein.

Eine dritte Frage macht
Sorgen mir und Wehen:
Soll ich in der Mondscheinnacht
Heut' zum Liebchen gehen?
Hei, da muss ich doch einmal
Das Orakel fragen.
Meiner Nestelknöpfe Zahl
Wird mir Kunde sagen.

Thu' ich's, oder lass' ich's heut'?
  "Lass!" spricht Knopf. -- 
Wer nicht Trotz dem Schicksal beut,
  Ist ein Tropf.

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Confirmed with Spielmannslieder von Rudolf Baumbach, Leipzig, Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, pages 14-15.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
1. Oracle
Language: English 
One question plagues me sorely,
Puzzles me:
Do I remain at the inkwell today
Or do I go carousing?
Ha, for that I must just
Ask the oracle.
The number of my ribbon-knots
Shall tell me what to do.

Shall I go or not?
  Knot says: "Go!"
What the voice of fate decrees
  Must happen.

Yet another thing torments me quite
[And] causes me much worry:
Should I pay today in the Blue Pike,
Or should I borrow?
Ha, for that I must just
Ask the oracle.
The number of my ribbon-knots
Shall tell me what to do.

Do I pay or do I not pay?
  Knot says: "No!"
What the voice of fate decrees
  That must be.

Yet a third question
Causes me anxiety and pain:
Today, in the moonlit night,
Shall I go see my darling?
Ha, for that I must 
Ask the oracle.
The number of my ribbon-knots
Shall tell me what to do.

Do I go, or do I let it be today?
  "Let it be!" says the knot. --
He who does not defy fate
  Is an idiot.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Orakel" = "Oracle"
"Das Orakel" = "The oracle"

Translator's note: The word "Nestelknöpfe" likely refers to the knots of ribbon adorning the garments of a Spielmann from the middle ages. The Spielmann in this poem used these knots of ribbon to count off in the manner of a girl plucking petals off a daisy to the words "he loves me, he loves me not." (The assistance of Bertram Kottmann in elucidating the meaning of this word is gratefully acknowledged.)



This text was added to the website: 2020-02-22
Line count: 36
Word count: 182

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Das letzte Kännchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Das letzte Kännchen", op. 47 (Vier fröhliche Lieder für Bass-Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1882 [ bass and piano ], Zürich, Hug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gib mir, trautes Ännchen,
Einen Abschiedskuss
Und das letzte Kännchen,
Weil ich scheiden muss.

An die Tür der Kammer
Schreibe meine Schuld,
Harre sonder Jammer
Meiner in Geduld.

Wird auf grüner Heide
Draussen mir ein Grab,
Wische sanft die Kreide
Mit der Schürze ab.

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 24.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
2.
Language: English 
Give me, dear Anna,
A farewell kiss
And the last tankard,
For I must depart.

Upon the door of my chamber
Write what I owe,
Without sorrow
Wait for me in patience.

If out there upon the green heath
A grave awaits me,
Gently wipe off the chalk marks
[Of my debt] with your apron.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Das letzte Kännchen" = "The last tankard"
"Das letzte Kännchen (Spielmannslied)" = "The last tankard (minstrel's song)"



This text was added to the website: 2020-08-17
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ach wie Kühle  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Ach wie Kühle", op. 47 (Vier fröhliche Lieder für Bass-Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1882 [ bass and piano ], Zürich, Hug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lauter rauschte der Wiesenbach,
Spürend ging ich dem Rauschen nach,
   Kam an eine Mühle.
An dem Thor hart an der Wand 
Bank und Tisch im Schatten stand.
   Ach wie war's da kühle,
        Ja kühle! 

Gott zum Gruss, Frau Müllerin! 
Wisset, dass ich durstig bin 
   Von des Tages Schwüle.
Und sie ging und kam und trug 
Rothen Wein im ird'nen Krug.
   Ach wie war der kühle,
        Ja kühle! 

Lächelnd sah sie dem Trinker zu. --
Milde Frau, ach wüsstest du,
   Was ich dankbar fühle.
Als ich meinen Hut gerückt,
Nichts ihr in die Hand gedrückt,
   Ach wie ward sie kühle,
        Ja kühle!

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 20.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
3.
Language: English 
The brook in the meadow rushed more loudly,
I walked along, tracking the rushing,
   I came to a mill.
At the gateway, close by the wall,
A bench and table stood in the shade.
   Ah, how cool it was there,
        Yes, cool! 

God greet you, Madame Miller!
Know that I am thirsty
   As a result of day’s humidity.
And she went and came and carried
Red wine in an earthenware jug.
   Ah, how cool it was,
        Yes, cool! 

Smiling, she watched the man who drank. --
Gentle lady, ah if you knew
   My feelings of gratitude!
When I tipped my hat,
Pressed nothing into her hand,
   Ah, how cool she became,
        Yes, cool!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Ach wie kühle!" = "Ah how cool!"
"Kurze Rast" = "A short rest-stop"
"Lauter rauschte der Wiesenbach" = "The brook in the meadow rushed more loudly"



This text was added to the website: 2020-04-25
Line count: 21
Word count: 112

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Der Propfenzieher  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Der Propfenzieher", op. 47 (Vier fröhliche Lieder für Bass-Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1882 [ bass, chorus, and piano ], Zürich, Hug
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Nun lasst uns tapfer brechen
   Den Rheinweinflaschen den Hals
   Und füllt mit goldnen Bächen
   Die Höhlung des Krystalls.
   Erhebt euch von dem Tische
   Und steht in Reih' und Glied
   Und singt das ewig frische,
   Uralte Zecherlied:
Zum Zippel, zum Zappel, zum Kellerloch 'nein,
Alles muss vertrunken sein!

   Der diesen Spruch ersonnen,
   Ein frommer Ritter was,
   Der lieber denn am Bronnen
   Bei vollen Fässern sass,
   Und als der letzte Gulden
   Aus seinem Beutel schied,
   Da machte er fröhlich Schulden
   Und sang sein altes Lied: 
Zum Zippel, zum Zappel, zum Kellerloch 'nein, 
Alles muss vertrunken sein!

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, pages 53-55.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
4. The corkscrew
Language: English 
   Now let us valiantly break
   The necks of the bottles of Rhine-wine
   And fill with golden streams
   The hollows of the crystal goblets.
   Arise from the table
   And stand in rank and file
   And sing the ever-new,
   Ancient carousing song:
Zip, zap, into the cellar hole,
Everything must be drunk up!

   The man who thought of this verse
   Was a devout knight,
   Who preferred to sit
   By full casks rather than by the water-well,
   And when the last guilder
   Had taken leave of his moneybag,
   He gaily went into debt
   And sang his old song:
Zip, zap, into the cellar hole,
Everything must be drunk up!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Das Testament" = "The will"
"Der Pfropfenzieher" = "The corkscrew"
"Der Propfenzieher" = "The corkscrew"
"Pfropfenzieher" = "Corkscrew"

Translator's note to lines 9 and 18: "Zippel" and "Zappel" are nonsense syllables, hence the translation reads as nonsensical, too.



This text was added to the website: 2022-05-23
Line count: 20
Word count: 107

Translation © by Sharon Krebs