×
Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
Translation © by Malcolm Wren
Wenn meine Mutter hexen könnt
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wenn meine Mutter hexen könnt, Da müßt sie mit dem Regiment, Nach Frankreich, überall mit hin, Und wär die Marketenderin. Im Lager, wohl um Mitternacht, Wenn Niemand auf ist als die Wacht, Und Alles schnarchet, Roß und Mann, Vor meiner Trommel [säß']1 ich dann: Die Trommel müßt' eine Schüssel sein, Ein warmes Sauerkraut darein, Die Schlegel Messer und Gabel, Eine lange Wurst mein [Sabel]2, Mein Tschako wär' ein Humpen gut, Den [füll']3 ich mit Burgunderblut. Und weil es mir an Lichte fehlt, Da scheint der Mond in mein Gezelt; Scheint er auch auf [Franzö'sch]4 herein, Mir fällt doch meine Liebste ein: Ach weh! Jetzt hat der Spaß ein End! - Wenn [nur]5 meine Mutter hexen könnt!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Riesenfeld: "sass"
2 Riesenfeld: "Säbel"
3 Riesenfeld: "füllt"
4 Riesenfeld: "Französisch"
5 omitted by Riesenfeld
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Der Tambour" [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 Gus Anton (b. 1938), "Der Tambour", published 1987 [ men's chorus a cappella ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hugo Distler (1908 - 1942), "Der Tambour", op. 19 (Mörike-Chorliederbuch), Heft 3 no. 1 (1939) [ chorus ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Riesenfeld (1879 - 1939), "Der Tambour" [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by August Scharrer (1866 - 1936), "Der Tambour", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1894 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Iwan Schönebaum (1880 - 1967), "Der Tambour", op. 47 no. 1, published 1906-1913 [ men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Kahnt Nachfolger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Heinrich Triest (1808 - 1885), "Der kleine Tambour", op. 29 (Vier Gesänge für 1. Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Der Tambour", from Mörike-Lieder, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "The drummer boy", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Mabel Dunning)
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le tambour", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Stéphane Goldet) (Pierre de Rosamel) , "Le tambour", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il Tamburino", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 121
The drummer boy
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
If my mother could work magic she would go off with the regiment to France. She would go everywhere with them and be a camp follower selling supplies. In camp at midnight when there is noone up except the watch and everybody is snoring, horses and men, that's when I would sit in front of my drum. The drum would turn into a bowl with warm sauerkraut in it The drumsticks, knife and fork, a long sausage - that was my sabre. My shako would be a good mug that I would fill with burgundy's blood. And because I would not have a light the moon would shine into my tent. Even if it was shining in French I would still be reminded of my love. Oh dear! That's brought the fun to an end. If only my mother could work magic.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Malcolm Wren, (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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Der Tambour"
This text was added to the website: 2006-04-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 141