by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Translation by August Corrodi (1826 - 1885)
Wha is that at my bower‑door?"
Language: Scottish (Scots)
Available translation(s): HUN
"Wha is that at my bower-door?" "O wha is it but Findlay!" "Then gae your gate, ye'se nae be here:" "Indeed maun I," quo' Findlay; "What mak' ye, sae like a thief?" "O come and see," quo' Findlay; "Before the morn ye'll work mischief:" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "Gif I rise and let you in"- "Let me in," quo' Findlay; "Ye'll keep me waukin wi' your din;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay; "In my bower if ye should stay"- "Let me stay," quo' Findlay; "I fear ye'll bide till break o' day;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "Here this night if ye remain"- "I'll remain," quo' Findlay; "I dread ye'll [learn]1 the gate again;" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay. "What may pass within this bower"- "Let it pass," quo' Findlay; "Ye maun conceal till your last hour:" "Indeed will I," quo' Findlay.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Scott: "ken"
Glossary
maun = must
bide = remain
waukin = awake
din = noise
ken = know
Authorship
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Indeed will I, quo' Findlay", first published 1783 [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 Francis George Scott (1880 - 1958), "Wha is that at my bower-door?", published 1939 [ low voice and piano ], from Scottish Lyrics, Book 5, no. 6, Bayley & Ferguson; confirmed with Songs of Francis George Scott, selected and edited by Neil Mackay, Roberton Publications, Aylesbury 1980, page 96. [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876) ; composed by Carl Loewe, Eusebius Mandyczewski.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858) , "Der kecke Finlay" ; composed by Robert Schumann.
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Gustaf Fröding (1860 - 1911) ; composed by Emil Sjögren.
- Also set in Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch), a translation by August Corrodi (1826 - 1885) ; composed by Friedrich Niggli.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Kdo do komůrky mé by rád?"
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Tamás Rédey) , "Ki vagy te ott a kert alatt?", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 143
Wer böpperlet a der Chammer a?
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) after the Scottish (Scots)
Wer böpperlet a der Chammer a? - Nu ich bis, seit de Heiri. Se pack di hei! Was witt du da? - Nu öppis! seit de Heiri. De schliichscht ja, wie wennd gstole hettscht! - Chumm lueg nu! seit de Heiri. De machscht na Stämpeneie zletscht! - Cha scho sy, seit de Heiri. Und lies i di is Chämmerli - O las mi! seit de Heiri Se wärs dänn mit mim Schlaf verbi. - Natürli! seit de Heiri. Und wärischt i mim Chämmerli - O wär i! seit de Heiri Se wettscht, bis's taget, bi mer sy. - Bis's taget, seit de Heiri. Und wettischt die Nacht bi mer sy - Di ganz Nacht, seit de Heiri Se fürch i, chämischt wider gli. - Gli wider, seit de Heiri. Was gscheh mag dänn im Chämmerli - Las gscheh nu! seit de Heiri Das rat i der, das bhalt für di! - Verstaht si! seit de Heiri.
Authorship
- by August Corrodi (1826 - 1885) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- a text in Scottish (Scots) by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Indeed will I, quo' Findlay", first published 1783
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Friedrich Niggli (1875 - 1959), "Wer böpperlet a der Chammer a?", op. 23 no. 2, published 1933? [men's chorus] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-24
Line count: 24
Word count: 156