Serbian Song Cycle

Song Cycle by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869)

View original-language texts alone: Serbischer Liederkreis

1. Mädchen und Rose
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach! mein kühler Wasserquell!
Ach! meine Rose, rosenroth!
Was doch blühtest so früh du auf,
Sollt' ich dich brechen, o Rose mein?
Habe keinen, dem ich gäbe dich!!
Pflückt' ich dich für mein Mütterlein:
Mütterlein ruht im Grabe tief!
Bräch' ich dich für die Schwester gern:
Schwester gieng mit dem fremden Gemahl!
Bräch' ich dich für den Bruder wohl:
Fort in den Krieg der Bruder zog!
Bräch' ich dich, ach! für meinen Freund:
Ach! der Freund ist weit und fern!
Über drei grüne Gebirge, weit!
Über drei kühle Gewässer, breit!

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by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870), as Talvj
1. The maiden and the rose
Language: English 
Ah! my cool waterspring!
Ah! my rose, rosy-red!
Why did you bloom forth so prematurely,
Should I pick you, oh rose of mine?
I have no one to whom I could give you!
If I picked you for my mother:
My mother rests deep in her grave!
If I broke you gladly for my sister:
My sister has departed with her foreign spouse!
If I broke you for my brother:
My brother has gone forth into battle!
If I broke you, ah! for my beloved:
Ah! my beloved is far and distant!
Beyond three green mountain ranges, far away!
Beyond three cool wide waters!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-10-24
Line count: 15
Word count: 104

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Beim Tanze
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trallalla! mein Liebchen!
Was hast du mir nicht gesagt,
Daß krank mein Liebster worden,
Hätt' ich Leckerbißchen
Ihm zur Nahrung geboten:
Vom Mückchen, das Rippenstückchen,
Vom Fliegelein, das Seelchen klein,
Vom Krebse zwei Bein',
Ein Becherlein mit Branntewein,
Ihm zum Geschenke,
Daß satt sich tränke
Der Liebste mein!

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by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870)
2. At the dance
Language: English 
Tralala! my little love!
Why did you not tell me
That my love has fallen ill?
I would have offered delicious tidbits
For his [refreshment]1:
A morsel of the rib of a mosquito,
The little soul of tiny fly,
Two legs of a crab,
A little goblet of brandy
As a gift to him,
That he may drink to repletion,
My beloved!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Loewe: "nourishment"


This text was added to the website: 2016-10-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Überraschung
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 
"Komm, o Bruder, in die helle Sonne,
Daß wir uns am Sonnenstrahl erwärmen
Daß den prächt'gen Anblick dort wir schauen!
Sieh', die straußgeschmückten Hochzeitleute!
Wohl dem Haus, wo sie sich hinbegeben!
Wessen Haus wohl mag der Gäste harren?
Wessen Mutter die Geschenk' austeilen?
Wessen Bruder Wein mit ihnen trinken?
Wessen Schwester unter ihnen sitzen?" --

 ... 
"Schwesterchen, sei dessen froh und fröhlich!
Unser Haus ist's, das der Gäste harret,
Unsre Mutter, so die Gaben austeilt,
Ich der Bruder, der mit ihnen Wein trinkt,
Du die Schwester, die bei ihnen sitzet."

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by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870)
3. Surprise
Language: English 
[The sister called her brother out into the sunshine:]1
"Come, oh brother, into the bright sunshine,
That we may warm ourselves by the sunbeam,
[And]2 gaze upon the glorious view there!
See the wedding party, adorned with bouquets!
Hail the house to which they go!
Whose house might it be that awaits the [procession]3?
Whose mother shall distribute the gifts?
Whose brother shall drink wine with them?
Whose sister shall sit among them?" --
 
[But her brother replied to her: ]1
"Little sister, be happy and joyful!
It is our house that awaits the guests,
Our mother who distributes the gifts,
I the brother who drinks wine with them,
You the sister who sits among them."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 omitted by Loewe
2 Loewe: "That we may"
3 Loewe: "guests"


This text was added to the website: 2016-11-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 119

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Des Jünglings Segen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Singt ein Falk' all' die Nacht durch,
Dicht vor dem Fenster des Milan:
"Auf, und erwache, o Milan!
Es vermählt sich dein Mädchen,
Ladet dich ein zur der Hochzeit;
Oder willst du nicht kommen:
Sollst deinen Segen ihr senden!"

"Laß sie sich vermählen, laß sie;
Kommen nicht mag ich zur Hochzeit,
Aber ich send' ihr den Segen:
Nimmer einen Knaben gebär' sie!
So viel Brot sie verzehret,
So viel Weh erdulde sie!
So viel Wasser sie trinket,
So viel Tränen vergieße sie!"--

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by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870)
4. The young man's blessing
Language: English 
A falcon sings throughout the night
Close by Milan's window:
"Up and awaken, oh Milan!
Your girl is getting married,
And she has invited you to the wedding;
If you do not wish to come
Then you are to send her your blessing!"

Let her marry, let her;
I do not care to attend the wedding,
But I send her my blessing:
Never shall she bear a boy!
However much bread she eats,
So much pain may she bear!
However much water she drinks,
So many tears may she shed!" --

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-03-30
Line count: 15
Word count: 90

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Liebesliedchen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Winter vorbei,
   Herzchen, mein Liebchen!
Lenz ist gekommen!
Vögelein singen,
   Herzchen, mein Liebchen!
Blühen die Röslein,
Liebet sich alles,
   Herzchen, mein Liebchen!
Will Zeit nicht verlieren,
Aber du, Goldchen!
   Herzchen, mein Liebchen!
Liebchen, nicht küssen,
Ist Zeit verlieren,
   Herzchen, mein Liebchen!
Küß' mich geschwinde!

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Translator's note: "Das obige Liedchen ist eines der sehr wenigen, bei denen sich die Übersetzerin einige Freiheiten erlaubt hat, da sie der Meinung war, daß rein lyrische Ergüsse nie wörtlich übersetzt, sondern geistig reproducirt werden sollten. Sie gibt das nämliche noch einmal, wörtlich treuer und mit Nachahmung des (unvollkommenen) Reims des Originals."

by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870)
5. Love song
Language: English 
Winter is over,
   Little heart, my little love!
Spring has come!
Birds sing,
   Little heart, my little love!
The roses are in bloom,
All things love one another,
   Little heart, my little love!
I do not wish to waste time,
But you, my little golden one,
   Little heart, my little love!
Darling, not to be kissing
Constitutes wasting time,
   Little heart, my little love!
Kiss me quickly!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-03-20
Line count: 15
Word count: 67

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Kapitulation
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hinterm Berge, dort, dem grünen,
Tönt ein heller Schrei zu Zeiten,
Knabe geht, zu forschen.
Ist ein Mädchen angebunden
Fest an einem Seidenfädchen.
Und sie fleht zum  ...  Knaben:
"Bind mich los, du Heldenjüngling,
Schwesterchen will ich dir sein!"
 ... :
"Hab' 'ne Schwester schon zu Hause!" --
"Bind mich los, du Heldenjüngling,
Schwägerin will ich dir sein!" --
 ... :
"Hab' 'ne Schwäg'rin schon zu Hause!" --
"Binde los mich, Heldenjüngling,
Liebchen will ich dir dann sein!" --
Und es küßte sie der Knabe,
Küßte sie, und sie erlösend,
Führt' er sie zum  ...  Hause.

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by Therese Albertine Luise von Jacob (1797 - 1870)
6. Capitulation
Language: English 
Beyond the mountain, [beyond]1 the green one,
A high-pitched scream sounds from time to time;
The lad goes to investigate.
Lo, a maiden is tied up
Securely by a silken thread.
And pleadingly she says to the [young]2 lad:
"Untie me, you heroic young man;
I shall be your sister!"
[But the lad counters:]2
“I already have a sister at home!" --
"Untie me, you heroic young man;
I shall be your sister-in-law!"
[But the lad again responds:]2
[I]3 have a sister-in-law at home!" --
"Untie me, you heroic young man;
I shall be your [beloved]4!" --
And the lad kissed her,
Kissed her, and, rescuing her,
Led her to the [white courtyard].5

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Loewe: "there"
2 omitted by Loewe
3 Loewe: "I already"
4 Loewe: "beloved then"
5 Loewe: "house"


This text was added to the website: 2016-11-08
Line count: 19
Word count: 118

Translation © by Sharon Krebs