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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 (Sechs Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1844, stanzas 1,3,5 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Haslinger
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Rettung", subtitle: "Altes Volkslied"
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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
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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Rettung", subtitle: "Altes Volkslied"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2025-11-23
Line count: 55
Word count: 301