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by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
Müller hab' Acht
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Müller hab' Acht,
Acht auf den Waizen, die Gerste, das Korn,
Acht auf das Mehl in den Säcken!
Ackermaus hinten und Wassermaus vorn
Gierig die Mäuler sich lecken,
Wühlen zum Speicher sich Stollen und Schacht.
Müller hab' Acht!
Müller hab' Acht,
Fischotter lauert am Mühlenwehr,
Gleitet behend in die Wellen,
Macht dir den Hälter von Karpfen leer,
Stiehlt dir die bunten Forellen,
Selber der Hecht wird umgebracht.
Müller hab' Acht!
Müller hab' Acht,
Acht auf den Acker, ich rathe dir's wohl,
Soll sich das Grünzeug entwickeln!
Lampe der Hase ergötzt sich am Kohl
Nebst zwei frechen Karnickeln.
Schau, wie er spitzt, wie er Männchen macht.
Müller hab' Acht!
Müller hab' Acht,
Acht auf den duftenden röthlichen Klee
Dort an der Bergeshalde!
Schau, wie lüstern das braune Reh
Aeugt aus dem dämmernden Walde,
Wie es hervorzieht leise und sacht.
Müller hab' Acht!
Müller hab' Acht,
Acht auf die Tauben im Taubenschlag,
Acht auf die Hühner im Stalle;
Reinecke schlüpft durch Hecken und Hag,
Hinze leckt sich die Kralle,
Marder und Iltis morden bei Nacht.
Müller hab' Acht!
Müller hab' Acht,
Lockt in der Nacht ein Stimmchen mild
Hinter dem Flieder, dem dichten,
Springt über'n Zaun dir ein Edelwild,
Nascht von verbotenen Früchten.
Mond verkriecht sich, es flüstert, es lacht --
Müller hab' Acht!
Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1882, pages 28-29.
Authorship:
- by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Müller hab' Acht!", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen [author's text checked 2 times 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 Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Müller hab' Acht", op. 42 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 2, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Pfitzner (1858 - ?), "Müller, hab' Acht", published 1890 [ voice and piano ], from Sieben Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 7, Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theobald Rehbaum (1835 - 1918), "Müller hab' Acht!"", op. 16 no. 9, published 1884 [ medium voice and piano ], from Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen von Rud. Baumbach für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 9, Berlin, Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
- by Fürchtegott Ernst August Riedel (1855 - 1929), "Müller hab' Acht", op. 8, Heft 2 no. 6, published 1884 [ satb chorus ], from Sechs humoristische Gesänge für gemischten Chor, Leipzig: Siegel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max von Weinzierl (1841 - 1898), "Müller hab' Acht", op. 37 no. 4, published 1884 [ baritone and piano ], from Sechs Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen von Rud. Baumbach für Bariton mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Wien, Rebay & Robitschek [sung text not yet checked]
- by H. Willemsen , "Müller hab' Acht", op. 10 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 2, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Darmstadt, Thies [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Miller, take care!", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-07-01
Line count: 42
Word count: 212
Miller, take care!
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Miller, take care!
Keep an eye on the wheat, the barley, the grain,
On the flour in the sacks!
The field mouse behind and the water-mouse in front
Are licking their lips greedily;
They burrow tunnels and shafts to the storehouse.
Miller, take care!
Miller, take care!
The river otter lurks at the mill wier,
Nimbly glides into the waves;
It will empty your carp-holder,
Steal your colourful trout,
Even the pike shall be killed,
Miller, take care!
Miller, take care!
Keep an eye on the field, I counsel you well,
If you want the green seedlings to develop!
The rabbit is enjoying the cabbages,
Along with two audacious bunnies.
Look at how he points [his ears], how he stands up on his hind legs.
Miller, take care!
Miller, take care!
Keep an eye on the scented red clover
There upon the mountain slope!
See with what craving the brown deer
Looks out from the twilit forest,
How it comes forth [from the woods] softly and quietly.
Miller, take care!
Miller, take care!
Keep an eye on the doves in the dovecote,
On the hens in the coop;
The fox is slipping through the hedges and groves,
The tomcat is licking its claws,
Martens and polecats murder by night.
Miller, take care!
Miller, take care!
When a gentle voice entices in the night
Behind the lilacs, the dense lilacs,
A gallant stag leaps over the fence on you,
Snacking on forbidden fruits.
The moon hides itself, there is whispering, there is laughing --
Miller, take care!
Translator's note for Stanzas 3 and 5: In old German texts (fairy-tales, fables, etc.) animals were given names -- "Lampe" for rabbits, "Hinze" for tomcats, "Reinecke" for foxes. These names are omitted in the translation.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
Contact:
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Müller hab' Acht!", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
This text was added to the website: 2020-03-13
Line count: 42
Word count: 256