Now I reap by the Neckar, now I reap by the Rhine

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Translation © by Emily Ezust

Bald gras ich am Neckar, bald gras ich...

Language: German (Deutsch)

Available translation(s): CAT ENG FRE ITA ITA SPA SPA

Bald gras¹ ich am Neckar, bald gras ich am Rhein;
Bald hab' ich ein Schätzel, bald bin ich allein!
Was hilft mir das Grasen, wenn d' Sichel nicht schneid't!
Was hilft mir ein Schätzel, wenn's bei mir nicht bleibt.

So soll ich denn grasen am Neckar, am Rhein,
So werf ich mein goldenes Ringlein hinein.
Es fließet im Neckar und fließet im Rhein,
Soll schwimmen hinunter ins Meer tief hinein.

Und schwimmt es, das Ringlein, so frißt es ein Fisch!
Das Fischlein tät kommen auf's König sein Tisch!
Der König tät fragen, wem's Ringlein sollt sein?
Da tät mein Schatz sagen: das Ringlein g'hört mein.

Mein Schätzlein tät springen bergauf und bergein,
Tät mir wiedrum bringen das Goldringlein mein!
Kannst grasen am Neckar, kannst grasen am Rhein,
Wirf du mir nur immer dein Ringlein hinein!

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)
¹ note: 'grasen' used to be a metaphor or euphemism for 'to have an amorous adventure'.

Authorship:

from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Earlier Title: Rheinischer Bundesring (mitgeteilt von Frau von Pattberg) [author's text not yet checked 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 (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Die Graserin", op. 31 (Fünf Lieder für 1 hohe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1882 [ high voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Rheinlegendchen", 1893, published 1899 [ voice and orchestra or piano ], from Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (formerly "Humoresken"), no. 7 [sung text checked 1 time]
by Gustav Pressel (1827 - 1890), "Bald gras' ich am Neckar " [ voice and piano ], from Sieben Lieder, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Petite légende du Rhin", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Piccola leggenda del Reno", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Piccola leggenda del Reno", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
SPA Spanish (Español) (Elena María Accinelli) , "La leyenda del Rin", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this text: Jakob Kellner , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 135

Now I reap by the Neckar, now I reap by...

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Now I reap by the Neckar, now I reap by the Rhine; 
Now I have a sweetheart, now I am alone!
What use is my reaping if the sickle doesn't cut?
What use is a sweetheart if she won't stay?

So if I am to reap by the Neckar and by the Rhine,
then I'll throw in my golden ring.
It will flow with the Neckar and the Rhine,
And float right down into the deep sea.

And as it floats, the little ring, a fish will eat it!
The fish will eventually come to the King's table!
The king will ask whose ring it is,
and my sweetheart will say: "The ring belongs to me."

My sweetheart will hurry up hill and down hill,
and bring me back my ring!
"You can reap by the Neckar, and reap by the Rhine
if you will always throw your ring in for me!"

About the headline (FAQ)

Translation of title "Rheinlegendchen" = "Rhine legend"

Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/
For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Earlier Title: Rheinischer Bundesring (mitgeteilt von Frau von Pattberg)

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 152