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.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
...
Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte das Aug', das helle, klare mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster beäugelt sein? --
Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte die Hand, die zarte, weiße mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster gestreichelt sein? --
Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte der Arm, der runde, weiche mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster umschlungen sein?
Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte das Herz, das volle, heiße mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster geliebet sein?
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 3-6 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Volkslied", op. 42 (Aus Osten, sechs Gesänge) no. 1, published 1867, stanzas 3-6 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel (formerly Whistling)
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875), no title, appears in Hafis - Eine Sammlung persischer Gedichte, in Poetische Zugaben aus verschiedenen Ländern und Völkern, in Aus Krain, first published 1846
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , from Carniola (German: Krain) [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (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: 2009-01-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 109
...
Of what use, of what use would
My eyes be to me, my bright, clear eyes,
If not to glance flirtatiously at my beloved? --
Of what use, of what use would
My hand be to me, my delicate, white hand,
If not to caress my beloved? --
Of what use, of what use would
My arm be to me, my round, white arm,
If not to embrace my beloved?
Of what use, of what use would
My heart be to me, my full, fervent heart,
If not to cherish my beloved?
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 3-6 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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) by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875), no title, appears in Hafis - Eine Sammlung persischer Gedichte, in Poetische Zugaben aus verschiedenen Ländern und Völkern, in Aus Krain, first published 1846
Based on:
- a text in Slovenian (Slovenščina) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , from Carniola (German: Krain) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2019-03-05
Line count: 18
Word count: 139