by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Weiß nicht, wo ich geboren
Language: German (Deutsch)
Weiß nicht, wo ich geboren,
Die Spur ging mir verloren,
Bin Niemand hier verwandt.
Die Welt ist meine Wiege,
Der Boden, wo ich liege,
Er ist mein Vaterland.
Der Schooß, der mich getragen,
Das Herz, das mir geschlagen,
In treuer Mutterbrust,
Der Vater, der das Leben,
Das schöne mir gegeben,
Sie sind mir unbewußt.
Ich wand're auf der Erde,
Bin fremd an jedem Herde,
Hab' eine Heimath nicht,
Besitze keine Habe,
Doch Raum genug zum Grabe,
Wenn einst mein Auge bricht.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Heinrich Heer (ed.), Liederkranz, I. Sammlung, Glarus: Verlag von E. Schmid, 1851, pages 9-10.
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):
- by Joseph Fischhof (1804 - 1857), "Weiss nicht wo ich geboren", op. 37 (Fünf Gesänge für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1838 [ baritone and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Gumbert (1818 - 1896), "Der arme Knabe", op. 26 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bruno Oscar Klein (1858 - 1911), "Der arme Knabe", op. 36 (Sechs Lieder und Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 2, published 1890 [ mixed chorus ], Leipzig, A.P. Schmidt [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Maria) Heinrich Schmidt (1809 - 1870), "Der Zigeunerknabe", op. 1 (12 Lieder im Volkstone) no. 11, published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2022-12-30
Line count: 18
Word count: 81
I don't know where I was born
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
I don't know where I was born,
I lost track of it,
I am related to no one here.
The world is my cradle,
The earth upon which I lie,
That is my homeland.
The womb that bore me,
The heart that beat for me
In the faithful bosom of a mother,
The father, who gave me
Life, beautiful life,
They are unknown to me.
I wander upon the earth,
Am a stranger at every hearth,
I have no home,
I own nothing,
But there will be room enough for a grave
When someday my eyes close in death.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Der arme Knabe" = "The poor boy"
"Der Zigeunerknabe" = "The Roma boy"
"Weiss nicht wo ich geboren" = "I don't know where I was born"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 2022-12-30
Line count: 18
Word count: 99