by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by Albert Grün (1822 - 1904)

It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face,
  Nor shape that I admire,
Altho' thy beauty and thy grace
  Might weel awauk desire. -
Something in ilka part o' thee
  To praise, to love, I find,
But dear as is thy form to me,
  Still dearer is thy mind. -

Nae mair ungen'rous wish I hae,
  Nor stronger in my breast,
Than, if I canna mak thee sae,
  At least to see thee blest.
Content am I, if Heaven shall give
  But happiness to thee:
And as wi' thee I'd wish to live,
  For thee I'd bear to die.

Note: "bonnie" is sometimes spelled "bonie"

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):

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 96

Lied im Volkston
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Scottish (Scots) 
Gar Vielen macht dein frisch Gesicht, 
Dein Wuchs, das Mieder enge, 
Doch, lieber Hans, das ist es nicht, 
Warum ich an dir hänge. 
Wohl zieht ein jeder Fleck an dir 
Mich unwillkührlich an, 
Doch über Alles liebe ich, 
Dein Herz, dein Herz, Johann. 

Mir könnte auf der Welt, Johann, 
Nichts Lieberes geschehen, 
Als, wenn ich dir's nicht bieten kann, 
Dich hoch im Glück zu sehen.
Daß dir der Himmel geben möcht', 
Was Menschen je er bot, 
Und wie ich mit dir leben möcht, 
Für dich litt' ich den Tod.

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):


Researcher for this page: Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2020-06-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 89