by
Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956)
Der Sohn II
Language: German (Deutsch)
Mein junger Sohn fragt mich: Soll ich Mathematik lernen?
Wozu, möchte ich sagen. Daß zwei Stück Brot mehr ist als eines,
Das wirst du auch so merken.
Mein junger Sohn fragt mich: Soll ich Französisch lernen?
Wozu, möchte ich sagen. Dieses Reich geht unter. Und
Reibe du nur mit der Hand den Bauch und stöhne
Und man wird dich schon verstehen.
Mein junger Sohn fragt mich: Soll ich Geschichte lernen?
Wozu, möchte ich sagen. Lerne du deinen Kopf in die Erde stecken,
Da wirst du vielleicht übrigbleiben.
Ja, lerne Mathematik, sage ich,
Lerne Französisch, lerne Geschichte!
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• H. Eisler Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
View text with all available footnotes
Confirmed with Die Gedichte von Bertolt Brecht in einem Band, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1981 (Neunte Auflage 1997), page 818
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The son II", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 96
The son II
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
My young son asks me: Should I study mathematics?
What for? I'd like to say. That two pieces of bread are more than one,
That you will notice anyway.
My young son asks me: Should I study French?
What for? I'd like to say. This state will fall, and
If you just rub your stomach with your hand and groan,
People will understand you.
My young son asks me: Should I study history?
What for? I'd like to say. You learn to stick your head into the sand
Then you might possibly be spared.
Yes! Study mathematics, I say,
Study French, study history!
View text with all available footnotes
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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:
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 103