by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by Josef Václav Sládek (1845 - 1912)

Nobody
Language: Scottish (Scots) 
I hae a wife o' my ain,
I'll partake wi' naebody;
I'll tak Cuckold frae nane,
I'll gie Cuckold to naebody. -

I hae a penny to spend,
There, thanks to naebody;
I hae naething to lend,
I'll borrow frae naebody. -

I am naebody's lord,
I'll be slave to naebody;
I hae a gude braid sword,
I'll take dunts frae naebody. -

I'll be merry and free,
I'll be sad for naebody;
Naebody cares for me,
I care for naebody. -

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):

    [ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858) , "Niemand" ; composed by Robert Schumann.
  • Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Georg Vierling.

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


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Nikomu
Language: Czech (Čeština)  after the Scottish (Scots) 
Mám ženu svou a mám ji rád
   a neberu ji nikomu;
já parohy si nedám dát
   a nedávám je nikomu.

Já mám svůj groš a nechci víc,
   zde! — díky za nic nikomu;
já k půjčování nemám nic
   a nejsem dlužen nikomu.

Já nevedu si panskou řeč,
   však neukřivdím nikomu,
já mám svůj dobrý, ploský meč
   a nevyhnu se nikomu.

Chci veselý a volný být
   a nežadoním nikomu,
když nikdo nechce ke mně jít,
   však nepůjdu já k nikomu!

Confirmed with BURNS, Robert. Výbor z písní a ballad, translated by Josef Václav Sládek, Praha: J. Otto, 1892.


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):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2019-08-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 79