English translations of Zwei Lieder, opus 29

by Adolf Gunkel (1866 - 1901)

1. Wundert's dich  [sung text not yet checked]
by Adolf Gunkel (1866 - 1901), "Wundert's dich", op. 29 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Friedlaender
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn die Bäume grünen,  
Wenn die Knospen springen,
Wundert's dich, wundert's dich,
Daß die Vögel singen?
Wenn die muntern Burschen
Volle Becher schwingen,
Wundert's dich, wundert's dich,
Daß die Burschen singen?

Wenn die Vögel singen
In der Luft der blauen,
Wundert's dich, wundert's dich,
Daß sie Nester bauen?
Wenn die Burschen singen
Beim Pokal, dem vollen,
Wundert's dich, wundert's dich,
Daß sie küßen wollen?

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emil Rittershaus, zehnte Auflage, Berlin: Eduard Trewendt, 1906. Appears in Wein, page 362.


by (Friedrich) Emil Rittershaus (1834 - 1897)
1. Are you surprised
Language: English 
When the trees grow green,
When the blossoms burgeon,
Are you surprised, are you surprised
That the birds sing?
When the merry lads
Raise full tankards,
Are you surprised, are you surprised
That the lads sing?

When the birds sing
In the air, the blue air,
Are you surprised, are you surprised
That they build nests?
When the lads sing
Before full goblets
Are you surprised, are you surprised
That they wish to kiss someone?

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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This text was added to the website: 2020-03-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Orakel  [sung text not yet checked]
by Adolf Gunkel (1866 - 1901), "Orakel", op. 29 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Gnevkow
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.
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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