Ten Morgenstern Songs

Song Cycle by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

View original-language texts alone: Zehn Morgenstern-lieder

1. Das Lied vom blonden Korken
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein blonder Korke spiegelt sich
in einem Lacktablett --
allein er säh' sich dennoch nich,
selbst wenn er Augen hätt'!

Das macht, dieweil er senkrecht steigt
zu seinem Spiegelbild!
Wenn man ihn freilich seitwärts neigt,
zerfällt, was oben gilt.

O Mensch, gesetzt, du spiegelst dich
im, sagen wir, -- im All!
Und senkrecht! -- wärest du dann nich
ganz in demselben Fall?

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
1. The Song of the blond Cork
Language: English 
A blond cork reflected on himself
By peering at a lacquered tray --
Alas he didn't see very much,
For without eyes he had no way!

Still, he would stand right straight up
In hopes of that mirrored view!
Of course when he was tilted sideways,
He would not spoil the precious brew.

O man, so frail, you see like him
In all things, shall we say!
And uprightly -- are you also then
Useful for a time, then tossed away?

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The Song of the blond Cork", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
2. Das Wasser
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ohne Wort, ohne Wort
rinnt das Wasser immerfort;
andernfalls, andernfalls
sprach' es doch nichts andres als:

Bier und Brot, Lieb und Treu,-
und das wäre auch nicht neu.
Dieses zeigt, dieses zeigt,
dass das Wasser besser schweigt.

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The poem is headed with (Dem Dichter Franz Servaes)

by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
2. Water
Language: English 
Without words, wordy words
Running water bubbles on;
Otherwise, yea otherwise
It would chatter dawn to dawn.

Beer and bread, love and care, --
Nothing new is said or sung.
All this shows is that water knows
It is best to hold one's tongue.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Water", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
3. Die Mitternachtsmaus
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn's mitternächtigt und nicht Mond
noch Stern das Himmelshaus bewohnt,
läuft zwölfmal durch das Himmelshaus
  die Mitternachtsmaus.

Sie pfeift aus ihrem kleinen Maul, -
im Traume brüllt der Höllengaul...
Doch ruhig läuft ihr Pensum aus
  die Mitternachtsmaus.

Ihr Herr, der große weiße Geist,
ist nämlich solche Nacht verreist.
Wohl ihm! Es hütet ihm sein Haus
  die Mitternachtsmaus.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
3. The midnight mouse
Language: English 
When it's midnight and neither moon
Nor stars do light the sky,
Then twelve times across the heavens
The midnight mouse doth fly.

It squeaks with its tiny teeny mouth, --
In dreams howl the nags of hell . . .
Yet calmly, gently onward goes
This midnight mouse's spell.

Its lord, that spirit great and wise,
Leaves to it the night wind's care.
Take heed then! He watches o'er
The midnight mouse's lair.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The midnight mouse", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
4. Kronprätendenten
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
-- "Ich bin der Graf von Réaumur
und hass' euch wie die Schande!
Dient nur dem Celsio für und für,
Ihr Apostatenbande!"

Im Winkel König Fahrenheit
hat still sein Mus gegessen.
-- "Ach Gott, sie war doch schön, die Zeit,
da man nach mir gemessen!"

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
4. Pretender to the Throne
Language: English 
-"I am the Count of Réamur
and hate you for my shame!
Celsius is used for this, for that
As was your apostasy's aim!"

In the corner sat King Fahrenheit
And quietly supped with pleasure.
-"Oh God, those days were lovely, and
T'was thus, for I was the measure!"

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Pretender to the Throne", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
5. Tapetenblume
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"Tapetenblume bin ich fein,
kehr' wieder ohne Ende,
doch statt im Mai'n und Mondenschein,
auf jeder der vier Wände.

Du siehst mich nimmerdar genung,
so weit du blickst im Stübchen,
und folgst du mir per Rösselsprung -
wirst du verrückt, mein Liebchen."

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
5. Wallpaper flowers
Language: English 
"I am a flower on the wallpaper's face,
And repeat from here to there;
While standing midst the birch leaves' green
On all the walls, a bloom so fair.

And yet you do not see me well enough,
While sitting with me above,
But gaze as if I were but some puzzle's fluff --
Have you gone mad, my love?"

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Wallpaper flowers", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 59

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
6. Himmel und Erde
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Nachtwindhund weint wie ein Kind,
dieweil sein Fell von Regen rinnt.

Jetzt jagt er wild das Neumondweib,
das hinflieht mit gebognem Leib.

Tief unten geht, ein dunkler Punkt,
querüberfeld ein Forstadjunkt.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
6. Heaven and Earth
Language: English 
The greyhound of night wails like a child,
As over its pelt rains run wild.

Then suddenly it hunts its Lady Moon,
That slowly flees in her broken swoon.

Yet worse than this image, dark with doom,
Comes a bureaucrat through the forest gloom.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Heaven and Earth", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 6
Word count: 44

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
7. Die beiden Flaschen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwei Flaschen stehn auf einer Bank,
die eine dick, die andre schlank.
Sie möchten gerne heiraten.
Doch wer soll ihnen beiraten?

Mit ihrem Doppel-Auge leiden
sie auf zum blauen Firmament . . .
Doch niemand kommt herabgerennt
und kopuliert die beiden.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
7. Both bottles
Language: English 
Two bottles sat together on a bench,
One thick boy and one thin wench.
They thought that they might wed,
But who'll advise? they asked instead.

Up into the sky of bluely blue
They gazed while suffering like me or you . . .
Ah! without advice forthcoming,
They relied instead on their plumbing.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Both bottles", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 54

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
8. Unter Zeiten
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Perfekt und das Imperfekt
    tranken Sekt.
Sie stießen aufs Futurum an
(was man wohl gelten lassen kann).

Plusquamper und Exaktfutur
    blinzten nur.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
8. Under tenses
Language: English 
The Perfect and the Imperfect drink
Some bubbly, as their glasses clink.
They toast the Future (and we think
This is a bright time to which to link).

The Pluperfect and Future Perfect
Wink for a fine effect.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Under tenses", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 6
Word count: 38

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
9. Die beiden Esel
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein finstrer Esel sprach einmal
zu seinem ehlichen Gemahl:

"Ich bin so dumm, du bist so dumm,
wir wollen sterben gehen, kumm!"

Doch wie es kommt so öfter eben:
Die beiden blieben fröhlich leben.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
9. Mister and Missus Ass
Language: English 
A grim-faced ass spoke prayerfully
To his conjugal bride quite carefully:

"I am so dumb, you are so dumb,
We'll live our lives, then death with come."

But as the tale so oft will tell:
They were life-long happy, dumb yet well.

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Mister and Missus Ass", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 6
Word count: 42

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)
10. Der Traum der Magd
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Morgen spricht die Magd ganz wild:
"Ich hab heut Nacht ein Kind gestillt -

ein Kind mit einem Käs als Kopf -
und einem Horn am Hinterschopf!

Das Horn, o denkt euch, war aus Salz
und ging zu essen, und dann -"

                               "Halt's -
halt's Maul!" so spricht die Frau, "und geh
an deinen Dienst, Zä-zi-li-e!"

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
10. The maiden's dream
Language: English 
In the morning a maid spoke crazed and wild:
"I have this night breast-fed a child --

A child with a head made out of cheese --
And a horn showing from his hair, if you please!

That horn, o think, it was made of salt
And went off to eat, and" -- 

                             "Halt!
Hush that mouth!" said the Lady of the House, "but be
You off to your work, crazed Cecily!"

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "The maiden's dream", rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Based on:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-02-03
Line count: 9
Word count: 69

Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)