by
Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
Besser wenig, als nichts
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Auf dem Feldweg den hemmenden Stein
Schieb' ich zur Seite,
Daß, wer pilgert hinter mir drein,
Sicherer schreite.
Leider hemmen den Wanderlauf
Steine noch viele.
Nimmer, läs' ich sie sämtlich auf,
Käm' ich zum Ziele.
Sitzt ein Bettler mit bleichem Gesicht
Hungernd am Raine.
Alle Thränen trocknest du nicht;
Trockne die eine!
Confirmed with Neue Monatshefte, V. Jahrgang (1890/91), Heft 11 (Juli 1891), page 534.
Authorship:
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) , "Better a little than nothing", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2021-10-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 52
Better a little than nothing
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The obstructive stone upon the path through the field
I push to the side,
So that whoever comes wandering after me
May stride more safely.
Unfortunately, the wanderer's path is encumbered
By many stones yet.
If I picked them all up, I would
Never reach my goal.
A beggar with a pale face is sitting,
Hungry, at the edge of the marge.
You shall not be able to dry all tears;
Dry this one!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Besser wenig, als nichts"
This text was added to the website: 2021-10-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 74