(Der Kopf spricht:)
Ach, wenn ich nur der Schemel wär,
Worauf der Liebsten Füße ruhn!
Und stampfte sie mich noch so sehr,
Ich wollte doch nicht klagen tun.
(Das Herz spricht:)
Ach, wenn ich nur das Kißchen wär,
Wo sie die Nadel steckt hinein!
Und stäche sie mich noch so sehr,
Ich wollte mich der Stiche freun.
(Das Lied spricht:)
Ach, wär ich nur das Stück Papier,
Das sie als Papillote braucht!
Ich wollte heimlich flüstern ihr
Ins Ohr, was in mir lebt und haucht.
Composition:
Set to music by Joseph Klein (1802 - 1862), "Wünsche", op. 6 no. 6 [ voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Charles Beltjens) , no title, appears in Intermezzo lyrique, no. 34, first published 1827
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust
[Administrator] , Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor], Pierre Mathé
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2007-10-14
Line count: 15
Word count: 86
(The head speaks:)
Ah, were I but the footstool
Upon which the feet of the beloved rest!
And though she stamped upon me ever so hard,
Yet I would make no complaint.
(The heart speaks:)
Ah were I but the pincushion
Into which she pokes the needle!
And though she stabbed me ever so much,
I would rejoice over the stabs.
(The poem speaks:)
Ah, were but the piece of paper
That she uses as curlpaper!
Secretly I would whisper into
Her ear what lives and breathe within me.
