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by Siegfried Kapper (1821 - 1879)

Der Bettelbube
 (Sung text for setting by W. Goethe)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Ich bin ein armer Bettelbube;
Mein Bruder ist der Mond, --
Und um ihn her geh'n meine Schwestern, 
Die Wolken bleich und blond.

Mein Vater ist der Thurm, der morsche, 
Der steht am Unkenteich; --
Und meine Mutter steht am Kreuzweg, 
Die alte, hohle Eich'!

Ich bin ein armer Bettelbube; 
Wenn ich gestorben bin, --
So nehmt und legt zu meiner Mutter 
Mich in den Graben hin.

Da ist mein weites Gruftgewölbe
Das nächt'ge Himmelszelt; --
Und mich beklagend zieh'n die Schwestern, 
Der Bruder durch die Welt. –

Composition:

    Set to music by Walther von Goethe (1818 - 1885), "Der Bettelbube", op. 22 (Slavische Bilder), Heft 1 no. 4, published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Bonn: N. Simrock

Text Authorship:

  • by Siegfried Kapper (1821 - 1879), "Der Bettelbube", subtitle: "(Slowakisch)"

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The beggar-boy", subtitle: "(Slovakian)", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


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

This text was added to the website: 2025-11-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

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