by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Unüberwindlich
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE FRL
Hab' ich tausendmal geschworen
Dieser Flasche nicht zu trauen,
Bin ich doch wie neugeboren,
Läßt mein Schenke fern [sie]1 schauen.

Alles ist an ihr zu loben,
Glaskristall und Purpurwein;
Wird der Propf herausgehoben,
Sie ist leer und ich nicht mein.

Hab' ich tausendmal geschworen,
Dieser [Falschen]2 nicht zu trauen,
Und doch bin ich neugeboren,
Läßt sie sich ins Auge schauen.

Mag sie doch mit mir verfahren,
Wie's dem stärksten Mann geschah.
Deine Scher' in meinen Haaren,
Allerliebste Delila!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   A. Wallnöfer 

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Goethes poetische und prosaische Werke in zwei Bänden, Bd. 1, Stuttgart und Tübingen, 1837.

1 Wallnöfer: "sich"
2 Wallnöfer: "Flasche" (this is very likely a typo in the score)

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) , "Invencible", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Onoverwinnelijk", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Unconquerable", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "J'ai mille fois juré", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRL Friulian (Ermes Culos) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 80

Unconquerable
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
 Although I've sworn a thousand times
 Not to trust this bottle,
 I feel born again
 when from afar my innkeeper presents it.

 Everything about it may be praised:
 crystal glass and purple wine;
 but when the cork is drawn,
 it is soon empty and I am not my own master.

 Although I've sworn a thousand times
 not to trust this false one,
 I feel born again
 when she gazes into my eyes.

 She may treat me
 as the strongest of men was treated.
 Your scissors are in my hair,
 most beloved Delilah!

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: 16
Word count: 93