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by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967)
Translation by Anna Siemsen

Play the blues for me
Language: English 
Play the blues for me.
Play the blues for me.
No other music
'Ll ease my misery.

Sing a soothin' song.
Said a soothing song,
Cause the man I love's done
Done me wrong.

Can't you understand,
O, understand
A good woman's cryin'
For a no-good man?

Black gal like me,
Black gal like me
'S got to hear a blues
For her misery.

About the headline (FAQ)

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Text Authorship:

  • by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Misery", appears in Fine Clothes to the Jew, first published 1927 [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 John Alden Carpenter (1876 - 1951), "That soothin' song", published 1927 [ medium voice and piano ], from Four Negro Songs, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Wilhelm Grosz (1894 - 1939), "Misery", from Africa Songs [sung text not yet checked]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anna Siemsen ; composed by Alexander Zemlinsky.
      • Go to the text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-08-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 64

Elend
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
Spielt die Blues für mich,
Spielt die Blues für mich,
Spielt sie leis und laßt
Leise weinen mich.

Spielt Vergessenheit,
O Vergessenheit,
Denn der Liebste
Tut mir Leid.

Das verstehst du nicht,
Nein, verstehst du nicht,
Daß ich liebe den,
Der mein Glück zerbricht.

Schwarz und arm bin ich,
Schwarz und traurig ich,
Spielt die Blues und laßt
Leise weinen mich.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anna Siemsen  [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in English by Langston Hughes (1902 - 1967), "Misery", appears in Fine Clothes to the Jew, first published 1927
    • Go to the text page.

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

  • by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Elend", op. 27 (Twelve songs: for soprano and piano) no. 7 (1937/8), published c1978 [ soprano and piano ], Hillsdale, N.Y. : Mobart Music Publications, [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 61

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