Es pochet ein Knabe leise
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE
Es pochet ein Knabe leise
an Feinsliebchens Fensterlein:
Feinslieb sag, bist du darinnnen?
Steh auf und laß mich ein!
Ich kann mit dir wohl sprechen,
Doch dich einlassen nicht;
Ich bin mit Jemand versprochen,
Einen Zweiten mag ich nicht!
Mit dem so du versprochen,
Feinsliebchen, der bin ich;
Reich mir dein Händelein weiße,
Vielleicht erkennst du mich.
Du riechest gar nach Erde,
Sag, Liebster, bist du tot?
Soll ich nach Erde nicht riechen,
Da ich in dem Grab geruht?
Weck Vater auf und Mutter,
Weck deine Freund all auf.
Grün Kränzelein sollst du tragen
Mit mir in den Himmel hinauf.
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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der tote Gast", WoO. 32 no. 11 (1858), published 1926 [ voice and piano ], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 11, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der tote Knabe", WoO. posth. 36 no. 3 (1859-62) [ SSA chorus a cappella ], from Acht Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der tote Knabe", WoO. 34 (Vierzehn deutsche Volkslieder) no. 10, published 1865 [ SATB chorus ], from Deutsche Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, no. 10, Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- 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) , copyright © 2011, (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: 100
A boy once thumped lightly
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
A boy once thumped lightly
at his sweetheart’s window pane:
“Darling, tell me, are you in there?
Wake up and let me in!”
“I can speak with you well enough,
But you absolutely can’t come in;
I’m promised to someone else,
I don’t want a second man!”
“But the one to whom you’re promised,
Darling, it’s me;
Extend to me your little white hand,
Maybe you’ll recognize me.”
“You reek of fresh earth,
Tell me, my dear, are you dead?”
“Should I not reek of the earth,
Since I’ve rested in a grave?
“Wake your father and mother,
Wake up all your friends.
Green wreaths shall you wear
With me in heaven above.”
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Der tote Gast" = "The dead guest"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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: 2016-10-22
Line count: 20
Word count: 113
