from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Der Tambourgesell
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE ITA POR SPA
Ich armer Tambourgesell,
Man führt mich aus dem Gwölb,
Wär ich ein Tambour blieben,
Dürft ich nicht gefangen liegen.

O Galgen, du hohes Haus,
Du siehst so furchtbar aus,
Ich schau dich nicht mehr an,
Weil i weiß, daß i gehör dran.

Wenn Soldaten vorbeimarschieren,
Bei mir nicht einquartieren.
Wenn sie fragen, wer i g'wesen bin:
Tambour von der Leibkompanie.

Gute Nacht, ihr Marmelstein,
Ihr Berg und Hügelein.
Gute Nacht, ihr Offizier,
Korporal und Musketier.

Gute Nacht! Ihr Offizier',
Korporal und Grenadier!
Ich schrei mit lauter Stimm,
Von euch ich Urlaub nimm.
Gute Nacht! Gute Nacht.

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):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El timbaler", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The Drummer Boy", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le tambour", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il tamburino", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • POR Portuguese (Português) (Paulo Albuquerque de Noronha) , "O tamboreiro", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Elena María Accinelli) , "El niño tamborilero", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Jakob Kellner

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 96

The Drummer Boy
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I, poor drummer boy -
they're leading me from my cell.
If I had stayed a drummer
I would not be imprisoned now.

O gallows, you lofty house,
You look so fearsome,
I won't look at you any longer
because I know I am yours.

When soldiers march by
who were not quartered with me -
when they ask who I was:
I was a drummer from the first company.

Good night, marble rocks,
mountains and hills -
Good night, officers,
corporals and musketeers.

Good night, officers,
corporals and grenadiers,
I cry with a loud voice,
and take my leave of you!
Good night! Good night.

Text 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

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 103