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Birke, Birke, des Waldes Zier,
Will Hochzeit machen,
Brauch' viele Sachen,
Was schenkst du mir?
Ich schenke dir einen grünen Strauß,
Den trägst du bei deinem Hochzeitsschmaus.
Der grüne Strauß gefällt mir sehr
Birke, was schenkst du mir noch mehr?
Ich schenke dir ein Ruthe,
Die kommt deinen Kindern zugute.
Die schwanke Ruthe gefällt mir sehr;
Birke, was schenkst du mir noch mehr?
Ich schenke dir einen Besen rauh,
Den führt mit Fleiß die junge Frau.
Der rauhe Besen gefällt mir sehr;
Birke, was schenkst du mir noch mehr?
Ich schenke dir einen Peitschenstiel,
Den schwingst du über den Rossen viel.
Der Peitschenstiel gefällt mir sehr;
Birke, was schenkst du mir noch mehr?
Ich schenk dir auch den Wein dazu;
Laß träufeln mein Blut, so hast du Ruh.
Der Birkensaft gefällt mir sehr;
Birke, was schenkst du mir noch mehr?
Ich hab nun alles gegeben dir,
Es bleibt nur noch das nackte Leben mir.
Birke, so lebst du dir selbst zur Pein;
Will Hochzeit machen,
Brauch' viele Sachen,
Komm' mit und heize mein Kämmerlein!
Confirmed with Gustav Pfarrius, Die Waldlieder, Köln: Verlag der M. DuMont-Schonberg'schen Buchhandlung, 1850, pages 41-42
Text Authorship:
- by Gustav Pfarrius (1800 - 1884), "Der Bräutigam und die Birke", appears in Waldlieder, first published 1850 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Bräutigam und die Birke", op. 119 no. 3 (1851), published 1853 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Gedichte aus den Waldliedern von G. Pfarrius, no. 3, Hannover, Nagel [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El nuvi i el bedoll", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De bruidegom en de berk", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The bridegroom and the birch tree", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le fiancé et le bouleau", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ted Perry , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 174
Birch tree, birch tree, you adornment of the forest,
I wish to marry,
Need many things,
What will you give me?
"I will give you a green bouquet
That you may carry at your wedding feast."
I very much like the green bouquet,
Birch tree, what else will you give me?
"I will give you a switch.
It will do your children good."
I very much like the supple switch.
Birch tree, what else will you give me?
"I will give you a rough broom
That your young wife may wield diligently."
I very much like the rough broom.
Birch tree, what else will you give me?
"I will give you a handle for your whip
That you may often crack it over your horses."
I very much like the whip handle.
Birch tree, what else will you give me?
"I will also give you wine to go with it;
I will let my blood drip, so that you may rest well."
I very much like the birch juice;
Birch tree, what else will you give me?
"I have now given you everything.
All I have left now is life itself."
Birch tree, then you are doomed;
I wish to marry,
Need many things,
Come along and heat my chamber!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gustav Pfarrius (1800 - 1884), "Der Bräutigam und die Birke", appears in Waldlieder, first published 1850
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-14
Line count: 30
Word count: 210