Language: German (Deutsch)
Es freit' ein alter Junggesell,
Mit neugeschabtem Barte.
Wie that er schön, wie kuckt er grell,
Als man bei Tisch uns paarte!
Laß ihn nur grell und artig sein,
Und noch so glatt sich schaben!
Nein, wahrlich nein!
Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Er trug ein Kleid von altem Schnitt,
Und seines Oheims Schnallen.
Wie äugelt' er, wie macht' er mit,
Den Mädchen zu gefallen!
Er mag um reiche Wittwen frein,
Mit reichen Morgengaben!
Nein, wahrlich nein!
Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Mit seinem wohlersparten Gut
Und seiner Tugend pral' er!
Was kümmert mich sein falber Hut,
Und seine blanken Thaler!
Soll sich ein frisches Jüngferlein
Am dürren Geize laben?
Nein, wahrlich nein!
Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Bald sezt er weiter seinen Stab,
Um ehrenfest zu werben.
Dann, Schwestern, fertigt flink ihn ab
Mit nettgeflochtnen Körben!
Laßt ihn sogar zum Zipperlein
Auf Freierfüßen traben!
Nein, wahrlich nein!
Ich will den Herrn nicht haben!
Composition:
Set to music by Nikolaus, Freiherr von Krufft (1779 - 1818), "Der Korb", op. 2, Heft 1 no. 6, published 1803 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Kunst und Industrie Comptoir
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The rebuff", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2010-12-08
Line count: 32
Word count: 162
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
An old bachelor went a-wooing
With a freshly-scraped chin.
How prettily he behaved, how brightly he peered about,
When we were paired at table!
Just let him be bright and correct,
And shave himself ever so closely!
No, truly no!
I do not want the gentleman!
He wore a coat of outmoded cut,
And his uncle’s shoe buckles.
What eyes he made, how he joined in with everything
In order to be pleasing to the maidens.
Let him woo rich widows
With generous dowries!
No, truly no!
I do not want the gentleman!
Let him boast of his
Carefully-saved money and his virtue!
What do I care about his pallid hat
And his shiny coins!
Is a brisk young maiden
To enjoy herself with desiccated greed?
No, truly no!
I do not want the gentleman!
Soon he shall continue on his way
In order to woo most honourably.
Then, sisters, deal with him quickly
With nicely phrased rebuffs!
Let him tramp with his wooing feet
Until even his gout acts up!
No, truly no!
I do not want the gentleman!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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:
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2024-02-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 183
