English translations of Zwei Männerchöre, opus 3

by Alfred Wernicke (1856 - 1931)

1. Altrheinisches Volkslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alfred Wernicke (1856 - 1931), "Altrheinisches Volkslied", op. 3 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 1, published 1888 [ ttbb chorus ], Mannheim: Hasdenteufel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab [die]1 Nacht geträumet
Wohl einen schweren Traum;
Es wuchs in meinem Garten
Ein [Rosmarinenbaum]2.

Ein Kirchhof war der Garten,
Ein Blumenbeet das Grab,
Und von [dem grünen Baume]3
Fiel Kron' und Blüte ab.

Die Blüten tät ich sammeln
In einen goldenen Krug;
Der fiel mir aus den Händen,
Daß er in [Stücke zerschlug]4.

D'raus sah ich Perlen rinnen
Und Tröpflein rosenrot.
Was mag der Traum bedeuten?
Ach Liebster, bist du tot?

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Confirmed with Das Lied von der blauen Blume, zwanzigste Auflage, by Leontine von Winterfeld-Platen, Schwerin: Friedrich Bahn, Copyright 1912, page 146. Appears in vierzehntes Kapitel.

1 Draeseke: "zu"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Deprosse: "Rosmarienbaum"
3 Deprosse: "den schönen Bäumen"
4 Deprosse, van Eijken, Volkmann: "Stücken schlug"

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1.
Language: English 
I dreamed all last night
Such a worrisome dream;
I saw growing in my garden
A rosemary tree.

A church graveyard was the garden,
A flowerbed the grave,
And from the green tree
fell a crown and blossoms.

I collected the blossoms
In a golden jar;
I fell out of my hands,
And [smashed completely to pieces]1.

Around the outside I saw pearls
And rose-red drops.
What could the dream mean?
Ah, Beloved, are you dead?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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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Translator's notes:
Line 2-4: crown (of a tree): braches and foliage from the top of the tree.
Line 4-1: pearls: could also mean pearly drops, like tears or sweat

1 J. van Eijken: "smashed to pieces"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Orakel  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alfred Wernicke (1856 - 1931), "Orakel", op. 3 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 2, published 1888 [ ttbb chorus ], Mannheim: Hasdenteufel
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)
2. 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.
    Contact: 

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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