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Und bötet ihr ein Bisthum mir Und wolltet mich heilig sprechen, Ich ließe für der Insul Zier Nicht ab vom Singen und Zechen. Und suchtet ihr eine Pfalz mir aus, Ich bliebe, statt hoch zu thronen, In einer junglustigen Wittib Haus Viel lieber im Winter wohnen. Ich mag in keinem Kreuzgang ruhn, Will einst im Walde schlafen, Und wollt ihr mir groß Ehre thun An meines Schiffleins Hafen, So meißelt mir die Chronika: Er war unter seines Gleichen Ein Markgraf der Frau Musika In ihren blühenden Reichen. Er war ein Wandrer dieser Welt, Sein Lied war sein Begleiter, Er war ein Fahrender ohne Zelt, Ein Spielmann und nichts weiter. Er war mehr fröhlich, als betrübt Und führt' ein nothhaft Leben, Hat viel gesungen, viel geliebt, Drum sei ihm viel vergeben!
Text Authorship:
- by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Grabschrift", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881 [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 Karl Haine (1830 - 1910), "Grabschrift", op. 54 no. 6, published 1886 [ medium voice and piano ], from Singuf-Lieder, no. 6, Hamburg, Cranz [sung text not yet checked]
- by Marie Charlotte Henriette von Kehler (1822 - 1882), "Grabschrift", op. 8 (Sechs Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 6, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Rosenthal (flourished c1882), "Grabschrift", published 1882 [ baritone and piano ], from Singuf. 6 Spielmanns-Lieder aus Juluys Wolff's gleichnamigem Liederbuch, no. 6, Wien, Gutmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans August Friedrich Zincke genannt Sommer (1837 - 1922), "Grabschrift", op. 4 no. 33 (1882/83), published 1884 [ voice and piano ], from Hunold Singuf. Rattenfängerlieder nach Julius Wolff's Dichtungen, no. 33, Braunschweig, H. Litolff [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Epitafi", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Epitaph", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-22
Line count: 24
Word count: 130
And if you offered me a diocese And wanted to canonise me, For the adornment of a Bishop’s accoutrements I would not stop singing and carousing. And if you chose for me a palace, Instead of reigning on high, I would Rather live in the house of a young and merry widow In the winter. I do not wish to rest in any cloister, I want to sleep in the forest when my time comes, And if you wish to do me a great honour When my little ship comes into harbour, Then chisel me this chronicle into my tombstone: Among his own ilk he was A margrave of Mistress Music In her flowering realms. He was a wanderer in this world, His song was his companion, He was a nomad without a tent, A musician and nothing more. He was happy more often than sad And led a life of deprivation, He sang much, loved much, Therefore may much be forgiven him!
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 Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Grabschrift", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881
This text was added to the website: 2014-08-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 163