by
Karl Busse (1872 - 1918)
Drei Wandrer sind gegangen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Drei Wandrer sind gegangen,
Und als der Abend fiel,
Da trugen sie Verlangen
Nach frohem Kartenspiel.
Der Jüngste sprach: "Ich bitte,
Sagt an, geht es um Geld?"
Und Antwort gab der Dritte:
"Wir spielen um die Welt!"
Der Jüngste, frei vom Grame
Und wie ein Maitag frisch,
Der warf die Herzendame
Helllachend auf den Tisch:
"Dann mag's euch nur nicht grämen,
Mir blieb das beste Stück,
Das soll mir keiner nehmen,
Juchhei! Ich bin das Glück. "
Der Zweite mit dem fahlen,
Durchfurchten Angesicht
Sprach: "Bruder, laß dein Prahlen,
Die Karte fürcht' ich nicht!
Was scheert mich deine Thräne
Und was dein rotes Herz!
Ich stech' mit der Kreuz-Zehne,
Gebt Raum -- ich bin der Schmerz!"
Der Dritte dumpfen Tones
Hat heimlich nur gelacht,
Sprach dann voll bittern Hohnes:
"Was ihr für Späße macht!
Ich lös' die Welt vom Leide,
Von Glück und Schmerz und Not,
Ich nehm' euch alle beide,
Trumpfaß! Ich bin der Tod."
About the headline (FAQ)
Text 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 Hans Hermann (1870 - 1931), "Drei Wandrer", op. 5 (Gesänge und Balladen für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen [sung text not yet checked]
- by Martin Plüddemann (1854 - 1897), "Drei Wanderer", published 1899 [ voice and piano ], from [Sechs] Balladen und Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, Band 8, no. 6, Nürnberg, Schmid [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Three wanderers", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2011-07-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 155
Three wanderers
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Three wanderers were walking,
And as nightfall came,
There came upon them a desire
For a merry game of cards.
The youngest spoke: "If you please,
Tell me, are we playing for money?"
And the third answered:
"We are playing for the world!"
The youngest, free of sorrow
And as fresh as a day in May,
Laughing brightly, he threw
The queen of hearts down upon the table:
"May it then not make you fret,
I retained the best portion,
No one shall take it from me,
Hurrah! I am good fortune."
The second with the pallid,
Furrowed face
Said: "Brother, leave off your boasting,
I do not fear that card!
Of what concern to me is your tear
And your red heart!
I stab with the ten of clubs,
Give over --I am pain!"
The third with a hollow sound
Only laughed secretly,
Then spoke full of bitter scorn:
"What silly little games you play!
I release the world from grief,
From good fortune and pain and suffering,
I take both of you,
The ace trumps! I am death!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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:
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 180
