Why are you so sad then

Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net

If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Warum bist du denn so traurig

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Warum bist du denn so traurig,
  Ich bin aller Freuden voll;
Meinst, ich wollte dich verlassen?
  Ach, du gefallst mir gar zu wohl!

Morgen muß ich von dir reisen,
  Abschied nehmen mit Gewalt,
Kommst mir zwar aus meinen Augen,
  Aber nicht aus meinem Sinn!

Sitzen dort zwei schöne Tauben
  Wohl auf einem schönen Ast:
Wo sich zwei Verliebte scheiden,
  Da verwelken Laub und Gras.

Laub und Gras verwelken zwaren,
  Aber treue Liebe nicht;
Scheiden, ach, du böses Kräutlein,
  Ach, wie schwer betrübst du mich!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• P. Gretscher • J. Grimm

About the headline (FAQ)

View text with all available footnotes

Confirmed with Guido Goerres (ed.), Altrheinländische Mährlein und Liedlein, Coblenz: J. Hölscher, MDCCCXXXXIII, page 96.

Text Authorship:

from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Warum bist du denn so traurig" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Go to the general view

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-08-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Why are you so sad then

NOTE: the footnotes have been removed from this text; return to general view

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Why are you so sad then,
  I am filled with all joys;
Do you think I want to leave you?
  Ah, you please me all too much!

Tomorrow I must travel away from you,
  Must take leave by force;
Though you may be removed from my eyes,
  You shall not be removed from my thoughts!

Yonder sit two lovely doves
  Together upon a single beautiful branch:
There where two lovers part,
  There leaves and grass wilt.

Leaves and grass may wilt,
  But not true love;
Parting, ah, you evil herb,
  Ah, how deeply you distress me!

About the headline (FAQ)

View text with all available footnotes

Translations of title(s):
"Altes Lied, altes Leid" = "Old song, old sorrow"
"Scheiden" = "Parting"
"Treue Liebe" = "Faithful love"
"Warum bist du denn so traurig" = "Why are you so sad then"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Warum bist du denn so traurig"
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general view

This text was added to the website: 2021-06-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 97