by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Ade, mein Schatz, du mocht'st mich nicht
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE ITA
Ade, mein Schatz, du mocht'st mich nicht,
ich war dir zu geringe.
Einst wandelst du bei Mondenlicht 
und hörst ein süßes Klingen:
Ein Meerweib singt, die Nacht ist lau,
die stillen Wolken wandern,
da denk' an mich, 's ist meine Frau,
nun such' dir einen Andern!

Ade, ihr Landsknecht', Musketier'!
wir zieh'n auf wildem Roße,
das bäumt und überschlägt sich schier
vor manchem Felsenschloße.
Der Wassermann bei Blitzesschein
taucht auf in dunklen Nächten,
der Haifisch schnappt, die Möven schrei'n,
das ist ein lustig Fechten!

Streckt nur auf eurer Bärenhaut
daheim die faulen Glieder,
Gott Vater aus dem Fenster schaut,
schickt seine Sündflut wieder!
Feldwebel, Reiter, Musketier,
sie müssen all' ersaufen,
derweil mit frischem Winde wir
im Paradies einlaufen.

About the headline (FAQ)

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) , "L'adéu del mariner", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Seaman's Farewell", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'adieu du marin", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "L'addio del marinaio", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 118

Seaman's Farewell
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 Adieu, my love, you do not want me -
 I was too low for you.
 One day you will wander by moonlight
 and hear sweet sounds:
 a mermaid is singing, the night is mild, 
 the quiet clouds are drifting;
 you will think of me. It is my wife,
 so go find yourself someone else!
 
 Adieu, soldiers and musketeers!
 we ride a wild horse
 that rears up and almost flips over
 before many a rocky castle.
 The merman in the lightning flash
 surfaces in dark nights,
 the shark snaps and the seagulls cry:
 this is a merry struggle!
 
 Stretch out your lazy legs
 on your bearskin at home,
 Father God gazes out of his window
 and sends his Deluge again!
 Fieldmarshals, cavalrymen and musketeers,
 all must drown,
 while with a fresh wind 
 we will land in paradise.

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: 24
Word count: 136