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Ach Elselein, liebes Elselein mein, Wie gern wär ich bei dir; So sind zwei tiefe Wasser, Wohl zwischen dir und mir. Willt du dich lassen abwenden drum, Weil sind der Wasser zwei, Da doch sonst mancher stolzer Knab Leidt noch so mancherlei. Ach Lieb, das schrecket mich allein, Daß ich nicht fahren kann, Und wenn dann bräch das Schiffelein, Müßt ich bald [untergahn]1. Ach nein, das soll geschehen nit, Ich selbst helf rudern dir, Damit du nur in kurzer Zeit, Herzliebster kommst zu mir. Weil du's, schöns Lieb, denn meinst so gut, Will ich's gleich wagen frei, Allein das bitt' ich fleißig dich, Steh mir ohn' Falschheit bei.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Deutsche Volkslieder mit ihren Original-Weisen, ed. by Andreas Kretzschmer, Berlin, Vereins-Buchhandlung, 1838, page 32. The first of three in an unnamed set. The second is here and the third is here.
1 Brahms: "untergehn"Authorship
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die beiden Königskinder", WoO. 32 no. 15 (1858), published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 15, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johann Diebold (1842 - 1929), "Herzliebstes Elselein", op. 32 (Sechs Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 2, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Schuberth & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Ach! Elslein, liebes Elselein mein", published 1875 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs deutsche Lieder aus dem 15 u. 16 Jh, no. 5, Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand von Hiller (1811 - 1885), "Zwei Wasser", op. 61 (Sechs volkstümliche Lieder für 2 Singstimmen mit Pianoforte (ad lib.), 2tes Heft) no. 4, published 1854 [ vocal duet with piano ], Offenbach, André; note: this may be the wrong text for this title [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Lassen (1830 - 1904), "Zwei Wasser", published 1904 [ voice and piano ], from Aus des Knaben Wunderhorn : alte Minneweisen und Volkslieder : für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung bearbeitet von Eduard Lassen, no. 7, note: with many variants not noted [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Ah Elsa, ma chère Elsa", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 108
Ach Elselein lief, mijn Elselein fijn, Hoe graag was ik bij jou; Maar twee heel diepe wateren zijn Er tussen mij en jou. Laat jij je weerhouden, vriend, daardoor, Dat er twee waat'ren zijn; Waar anders menige trotse knaap Doorstaat zo velerlei. Ach lief, dit enkel maakt mij bang Dat ik niet varen kan, En als zou breken 't scheepje klein, Zou 'k gauw ten onder gaan. Ach neen, dat zal gebeuren niet, Bij 't roeien hulp krijg jij, Zodat je in heel korte tijd, Mijn liefste, bent bij mij. Daar jij, mijn schat, het meent zo goed, Wil ik 't gaan wagen vrij, Alleen dat vraag ik dringend jou: Sta mij dan eerlijk bij.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Die beiden Königskinder" = "De beide koningskinderen"Authorship
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2015 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen. Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , no title
This text was added to the website: 2015-07-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 115