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Ein Geist, in Weinsberg wohl bekannt, Wird dort der Klopferle genannt, Stadtküfer einst, kann ob der Sünden Im Grab er keine Ruhe finden, Wer ihn im Rathauskeller sieht, Der schreit, indem er aufwärts flieht: "[Den Klopferle, den Klopferle, Ich hab, ich hab den Klopferle, Den Klopferle gesehn!]1" Jedoch, er ist als Geist nicht schlimm, Nach Besserung gelüstet ihm. Er schaut prophetisch in die Ferne Und kündet drum auch froh und gerne In heil'ger Christnacht, wann der Wein Wird nächsten Herbst ein guter sein. Dann klopft er, klopft und klopft und klopft, Wie er als Küfer hat geklopft, [Im Kellerraum, der Klopferle, Dann in der Christnacht klopft.]2 Die Christnacht heuer [war]3 ganz stumm, Da plötzlich tönt es: Bum! bum! bum! [Bumbum!]2 Die Rathausfässer alle, Erklangen laut mit hellem Schalle, Und alles rief gar hocherfreut: "Hört! hört! was uns wird prophezeit: Ein Herbst kommt, wie in Kanaan, [Der Klopferle, der Klopferle Der Kellergeist, der Klopferle, Der Klopferle zeigt's an!]4 Jetzt, wo ein Faß ist, trinkt es leer, Daß drinnen [bleibt kein]5 Tropfen mehr! Denn wenn der Glücksherbst tut erscheinen, Muß Platz sein all den neuen Weinen, Und zum Willkomm soll unser Sang Weit dröhnen Stadt und Tal entlang: "[Der Klopferle, der Klopferle,]2 Der neue Wein, der Klopferle, Es lebe hoch der Klopferle,]2 Der Klopferle leb hoch!"
Confirmed with Weinsberger Poesie Album, Gedichtsammlung mit Beiträgen zur Geschichte und Literatur, für die Stadt Weinsberg herausgegeben von Kurt Seeber, Weinsberg: Jahrbuch Verlag, 1983, pages 245-246
1 Wallbach: "Der Klopferle, der Klopferle, / O je, ich hab' den Klopferle, / den Klopferle gesehn!"2 omitted by Wallbach
3 Wallbach: "schien"
4 Wallbach: "Der Kellergeist, der Klopferle, zeigt's an"
5 Wallbach: "keinen"
Text Authorship:
- by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907) [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Louis (or Ludwig) Wallbach (1832 - 1914), "Der Kellergeist zu Weinsberg, genannt "der Klopferle"", op. 61. [ sung text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "The cellar spirit of Weinsberg, called the Knocker", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-18
Line count: 39
Word count: 223
A ghost, well known in Weinsberg, Is there called the Knocker. City cooper once, because of his sins He can find no rest in the grave. Whoever sees him in the cellar of the city hall Screams while he flees back up the stairs: “The Knocker, the Knocker, Oh dear, I have seen the Knocker, the Knocker. But as far as ghosts go, he’s not so bad, And he is desirous of improving, He gazes prophetically into the distance And therefore foretells happily and gladly At holy Christmas Eve, when the wine Shall be a good one next autumn: Then he knocks, knocks and knocks and knocks, As he knocked when we was a cooper. This last Christmas Eve seemed to be quite mute, When suddenly it sounded boom, boom, boom! All of the barrels in the city hall, all Resounded loudly with a bright tone. And everyone, overjoyed, called out: Listen! listen! to what is being prophesied: An autumn is coming, as in Canaan, The cellar ghost, the Knocker, announces it. Now wherever there be a barrel, drink it empty So that there remains not a drop in it! For when the lucky autumn arrives, There must be room for all the new wines. And to welcome them our singing shall Ring out along the vastness of city and valley: The new wine, the Knocker, The Knocker be celebrated!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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 Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-22
Line count: 32
Word count: 230