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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

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Rettung
 (Sung text for setting by W. Goethe)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
  O halt, Schiffer, halt! 
Gern wird von Sklavenketten 
Lieb' Schwester mich erretten.
Da kommt sie hergewallt. 
Befreie doch mein junges Leben! 
Ach gute Schwester, wolltest du 
Nicht zum Versatz des Ringes Demant geben? 
Und frei bin ich im Nu! --
"Wer thut auf Edelstein Verzicht? 
"Dein junges Leben rett' ich nicht! 
"Fahr zu, Schiffer, fahr zu!"

 ... 

  O halt Schiffer, halt! 
Gern wird von Sklavenketten 
Herzvater mich erretten, 
Da kommt er hergewallt. 
Befreie doch mein junges Leben! 
Ach theurer Vater, wolltest Du 
Nicht zum Versatz den theuren Mantel geben? 
Und frei bin ich im Nu! --
"Wer thut denn auf sein Kleid Verzicht? 
"Dein junges Leben rett' ich nicht! 
"Fahr zu, Schiffer, fahr zu!"

 ... 

  O halt Schiffer, halt! 
Gern wird von Sklavenketten 
Mein Liebster mich erretten, 
Da kommt er hergewallt. 
Befreie doch mein junges Leben!
Du Einzigliebster, wolltest du 
Dein gutes Schwerdt nicht zum Versatze geben? 
Und frei bin ich im Nu! --
"Dein junges Leben rett' ich bald.
"Nimm Alles, Alles, greife zu! 
"Halt, Schiffer, halt!"

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Walther von Goethe (1818 - 1885), "Rettung", op. 14 no. 1, published 1844, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Haslinger

Text Authorship:

  • from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Rettung", subtitle: "Altes Volkslied"

Go to the general single-text view

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Rescue", subtitle: "Ancient folksong", 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: 2025-11-23
Line count: 55
Word count: 277

Rescue
 (Sung text translation for setting by W. Goethe)
 See original
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  Oh stop, boatman, stop!
Gladly shall my dear sister
Rescue me from these shackles.
There she comes a-walking.
Oh, set my young life free!
Ah, good sister, would you not
Pawn the diamond in your ring?
And I would be free in a trice! --
"Who could relinquish precious stones?
"I shall not rescue your young life!
"Row on, boatman, row on!"

 ... 

  Oh stop, boatman, stop!
Gladly shall my loving father
Rescue me from these shackles.
There he comes a-walking.
Oh, set my young life free!
Ah, dearest father, would you not
Pawn your valuable coat?
And I would be free in a trice! --
"Who would ever relinquish his garment?
"I shall not rescue your young life!
"Row on, boatman, row on!"

 ... 

  Oh stop, boatman, stop!
Gladly shall my beloved
Rescue me from these shackles.
There he comes a-walking.
Oh, set my young life free!
You, sole beloved, would you not
Pawn your good sword?
And I would be free in a trice! --
"I shall soon rescue your young life.
"Take everything, everything, help yourself!
"Stop, boatman, stop!"

Subtitle: "Ancient folksong"

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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) , "Rettung", subtitle: "Altes Volkslied"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2025-11-23
Line count: 55
Word count: 301

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This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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