Ah, if only the king knew as well

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Soldatenbraut

(Sung text for setting by A. Berg)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT CAT DUT ENG FIN FRE POR

Ach, wenn's nur der König auch wüßt',
Wie wacker mein Schätzelein ist!
Für den König, da ließ' er sein Blut,
Für mich aber auch eben so gut.

Mein Schatz hat kein Band und kein' Stern,
Kein Kreuz wie die vornehmen Herrn,
Mein Schatz wird auch kein General;
Hätt' er nur seinen Abschied einmal!

Es scheinen drei Sterne so hell
Dort über Marien-Kapell;
Da knüpft uns ein rosenrot' Band,
Und ein Hauskreuz ist auch bei der Hand.

Composition:

Alban Maria Johannes Berg

Jugendlieder, Vol. II (1904-08)

Text Authorship:

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Die Soldatenbraut"

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Manuel Capdevila i Font) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Het soldatenmeisje", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , no title, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Sotilaan morsian", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La fiancée du soldat", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
POR Portuguese (Português) (Margarida Moreno) , "Noiva de soldado", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 76

The soldier's bride

(Sung text translation for setting by A. Berg)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Add this translation to your Reprint Basket | Add tr by A. Berg

Ah, if only the king knew as well
How valiant my darling is!
He would offer his lifeblood for the king,
But also just the same for me.
 
My darling has no ribbons and medals,
No crosses like the lordly gentlemen,
My darling will also not become a general;
If only he could get his discharge!
 
Three stars shine so brightly
There over the Chapel of St. Mary;
There a rosy-red ribbon shall unite us,
And a cross to bear at home is also already on hand.

Note for stanza 3, line 4: "Hauskreuz" is a German idiom for a cranky wife.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Die Soldatenbraut"
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This text was added to the website: 2015-03-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 87