by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Wozu, wozu mir sein
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Slovenian (Slovenščina) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte das Haar, das schöne, lange mein,
Soll nicht damit im Putze gepranget sein? --

  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte der Fuß, der leichte, flinke mein,
Soll nicht damit im Tanze geflogen sein? --

  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte das Aug', das helle, klare mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster beäugelt sein? --

  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte die Hand, die zarte, weiße mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster gestreichelt sein? --

  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte der Arm, der runde, weiche mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster umschlungen sein?

  Wozu, wozu mir sein
Sollte das Herz, das volle, heiße mein,
Soll nicht damit mein Liebster geliebet sein?

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   R. Franz 

R. Franz sets stanzas 3-6

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with G. Fr. Daumer, Hafis: Eine Sammlung persischer Gedichte. Nebst poetischen Zugaben aus verschiedenen Völkern und Ländern, Hamburg: Bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1846, page 225.


Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-01-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 109

Of what use, of what use would
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  Of what use, of what use would 
My hair be to me, my lovely long hair,
If not to be flaunted with all its finery? --

  Of what use, of what use would
My foot be to me, my light, quick foot,
If not to fly in the dance? --

  Of what use, of what use would
My eyes be to me, my bright, clear eyes,
If not to glance flirtatiously at my beloved? --

  Of what use, of what use would
My hand be to me, my delicate, white hand,
If not to caress my beloved? --

  Of what use, of what use would
My arm be to me, my round, white arm,
If not to embrace my beloved?

  Of what use, of what use would
My heart be to me, my full, fervent heart,
If not to cherish my beloved?

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Volkslied" = "Folksong"
"Wozu, wozu mir sein sollte das Haar!" = "Of what use, of what use would my hair be to me!"


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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:

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This text was added to the website: 2019-03-05
Line count: 18
Word count: 139