Der Erbe
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ich hebe meine Geige
Ganz heimlich unters Kinn
Und zieh' mit leisem Bogen
Ganz heimlich drüber hin.
Da hebt mein blondes Dirnlein
Den Fuß zum Tanzeschritt;
Der Braunen lichtes Stimmlein
Singt schon die Weise mit.
Die Jüngste wiegt ihr Püppchen:
"Marie Maruschka-ka!" --
Mit großen, dunklen Augen
Sitzt stumm mein Bube da.
Er kennt vor unserm Fenster
Den alten Weidenbaum.
Wiegt auf dem höchsten Wipfel
Im Winde sich sein Traum?
Mein Sohn, in meinen Tönen
Hörst du der Winde Tanz?
Mein Sohn, in meinen Tönen
Siehst du der Wolke Glanz?
Mein Sohn, ich bin ein König,
Willst du mein Erbe sein?
Du wirst im Sonnenpurpur
Ein Fürst der Ferne sein.
Ich hab' ein Schloß voll Schimmer
An einem fernen Meer --
Heb' ich ans Kinn die Geige,
Kommt Gruß und Glück daher.
Confirmed with Otto Ernst, Siebzig Gedichte. Neue und alte Verse, Erstes bis zehntes Tausend, Leipzig: Verlag von L. Staackmann, 1907, pages 90-91.
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):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The heir", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2024-10-17
Line count: 28
Word count: 131
The heir
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I lift my violin
Quite secretly under my chin
And with a quiet bow I stroke
Quite secretly over [the strings].
Thereupon my blonde daughter moves
Her feet to the steps of the dance;
The light voice of the brunette
Is already singing along with the tune.
The youngest is rocking her doll:
"Marie Maruschka-ka!" --
With great, dark eyes
My son is sitting there mutely.
He knows the old willow tree
That stands before our window.
Is his dream rocking in the wind
On the highest treetop?
My son, in my tones
Do you hear the dance of the wind?
My son, in my tones
Do you see the radiance of the cloud?
My son, I am a king,
Do you wish to be my heir?
In sunny crimson you shall be
A prince of distant lands.
I have a castle full of lustre
By a distant sea --
When I lift my violin to my chin
A greeting and happiness come from there.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2024-10-17
Line count: 28
Word count: 164
