Das Mägdlein will ein' Freier habn, Und sollt' sie'n aus der Erde grabn, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Sie grub wohl ein, sie grub wohl aus Und grub nur einen Schreiber heraus, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Der Schreiber hatt' des Gelds zu viel, Er kauft dem Mädchen, was sie will, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Er kauft ihr einen Gürtel schmal, Der starrt von Gold wohl überall, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Er kauft ihr einen breiten Hut, Der wär' wohl für die Sonne gut, Für funfzehn Pfennige. [Der Schreiber]1: Wohl für die Sonn', wohl für den Wind, Bleib du bei mir, mein liebes Kind, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Bleibst du bei mir, bleib' ich bei dir, All meine Güter schenk' ich dir, Sind funfzehn Pfennige. [Mägdlein]2: Behalt dein Gut, laß mir [mein'n]3 Mut, Kein' andre [leicht]4 dich nehmen tut, Für funfzehn Pfennige. [Schreiber]5: Dein' guten Mut, den mag ich nicht, Hast traun von treuer Liebe nicht, Für funfzehn Pfennige. Dein Herz ist wie ein Taubenhaus, [Fliegt]6 einer nein, der andre aus, Für funfzehn Pfennige.
Confirmed with a 1906 reprint of Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano, Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Alte deutsche Lieder, gesammelt von Heidelberg: beÿ Mohr u. Zimmer, Frankfurt: beÿ J.C.B. Mohr, 1806, page 212. The reprint was published in Leipzig by Hesse & Becker Verlag and edited by Eduard Grisebach.
Note: [sic] for the spelling of "funfzehn"1 Strauss: "Der Schreiber (zärtlich, schmachtend)"
2 Strauss: "Mägdlein (schnelle und schnippisch)"
3 Strauss: "mein"
4 Strauss: "doch"
5 Strauss: "Der Schreiber (ebenso rasch)"
6 Strauss: "Geht"
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Für funfzehn Pfennige", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, from [author's text checked 1 time 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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Für funfzehn Pfennige", op. 36 (Vier Lieder für 1 hohe Stimme -- für 1 tiefe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], München, Aibl Verlag [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Voor dertien dubbeltjes", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "For fifteen cents", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "And all for half-a-crown", first published 1898
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Pour quinze sous", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Lau Kanen [Guest Editor] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 33
Word count: 168
The maid would fain a lover find, To get one she had rackt her mind, And all for half-a-crown. She ponder'd deep, left naught untried; At last a clerk with her wish compiled And all for half-a-crown. The clerk was rich; her wish, his will: Her ev'ry craving he'd fulfil, Though't cost him half-a-crown. He brought his love a costly belt, (That 'twas of gold you could have felt) It cost him half-a-crown. He bought her many a broad-brimm'd hat, To keep the burning sun off, think of that! For half-a-crown. Clerk (tenderly and languishing): Yea, for the sun, yea, for the wind, Stay, stay with me, be not unkind, I'll give thee half-a-crown. Be true to me, I’m true to thee, All my belongings thine shall be The last for half-a-crown. Maiden (sharp and peevish): Nay, keep thy wealth, I know not stealth! No maid would wed thee for all thy wealth; Nor I for half-a-crown. Clerk (in the same manner): I would not wed thee, gentle dove, Nay, by my troth, for all thy love Is worth not half-a-crown. Thy heart is like a pigeoncot; New love flies in, the old flies out, It's not worth half-a-crown.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "And all for half-a-crown", first published 1898 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Für funfzehn Pfennige", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn, from
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2020-04-01
Line count: 33
Word count: 200