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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."
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Text Authorship:
- by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918), "Drei Wandrer", appears in Vermischte Gedichte [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 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 [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 155
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918), "Drei Wandrer", appears in Vermischte Gedichte
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 180