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Ich wollt' ich wär' ein Fisch, So [hurtig und]1 frisch; Und kämst du zu [anglen]2, Ich würde nicht [manglen]3. Ich wollt' ich wär' ein Fisch, So hurtig und frisch. Ich wollt' ich wär' ein Pferd, Da wär' ich dir werth. O wär' ich ein Wagen, Bequem dich zu tragen. Ich wollt' ich wär' ein Pferd, Da wär' ich dir werth. Ich wollt' ich wäre Gold, Dir immer im Sold; Und thätst du was kaufen, Käm ich [wieder]4 gelaufen. Ich wollt' ich wäre Gold, Dir immer im Sold. Ich wollt' ich wär' treu, Mein Liebchen stets neu; Ich wollt' mich verheißen, Wollt' nimmer verreisen. Ich wollt' ich wär' treu, Mein Liebchen stets neu. Ich wollt' ich wär' alt Und runzlig und kalt; Thätst du mir's versagen, Da könnt mich's nicht plagen. Ich wollt' ich wär' alt Und runzlig und kalt. Wär' ich Affe sogleich Voll neckender Streich'; Hätt' was dich verdrossen, So macht' ich dir Possen. Wär' ich Affe sogleich Voll neckender Streich'. Wär' ich gut wie ein Schaf; Wie der Löwe so brav; Hätt' Augen wie's Lüchschen, Und Listen wie's Füchschen. Wär' ich gut wie ein Schaf Wie der Löwe so brav. Was alles ich wär', Das gönnt' ich dir sehr; Mit fürstlichen Gaben, Du solltest mich haben. Was alles ich wär', Das gönnt' ich dir sehr. Doch bin ich wie ich bin, [Und]5 nimm mich nur hin! Willst [du]6 bess're besitzen, So laß dir sie schnitzen. Ich bin nun wie ich bin; So nimm mich nur hin!
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1-3, 9
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 34-36; with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, pages 32-34; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Original-Ausgabe. Wien, 1816. Bey Chr. Kaulfuß und C. Armbruster. Stuttgart. In der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. Gedruckt bey Anton Strauß, pages 34-36.
1 Schubert (autograph): "munter so"2 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition), and Schubert: "angeln"
3 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition), and Schubert: "mangeln"
4 Schubert: "wie"
5 Schubert: "Doch"
6 omitted by Schubert
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Liebhaber in allen Gestalten", written 1810, first published 1815 [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 Thomas Christian David (1925 - 2006), "Liebhaber in allen Gestalten", 1977 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joseph Klein (1802 - 1862), "Liebhaber in allen Gestalten", op. 71 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge von Heine und Goethe) no. 6, published 1826 [ soprano and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Liebhaber in allen Gestalten", D 558 (1817), published 1887, stanzas 1-3,9 [ voice, piano ], Friedlaender VII, Leipzig [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Duettino", 1810, note: stanzas number 6 and 7 are reversed. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Minnaars in soorten", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "I wish I were a fish", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Amoureux sous toutes ses formes", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Innamorato in tutte le forme", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Martin-Beatus Meier , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 248
I wish I were a fish, so quick and fresh; and if you came to fish, I would not stay away. I wish I were a fish, so quick and fresh; I wish I were a horse that you esteemed; O were I only a cart to bear you comfortably! I wish I were a horse that you esteemed. I wish I were gold, always in your pocket, and if you used me to buy something, I would come running back. I wish I were gold, always in your pocket. I wish I were faithful, and my sweetheart always new; I would promise myself never to go away. I wish I were true, and my sweetheart always new. I wish I were old and wrinkled and cold; If you betrayed me, I would not be able to torment myself. I wish I were old, and wrinkled and cold. Were I were a monkey full of teasing pranks, if something annoyed you, I would make a joke of it. Were I a monkey full of teasing pranks. Were I as good as a sheep, as brave as a lion; had I eyes like a lynx, and cunning like a fox. Were I good as a sheep, and brave as a lion.... If I were all that, I would not begrudge you; with princely gifts, you should have me. If I were all that, I would not begrudge you. But I am just as I am; and take me for that! If you want something better, then let them carve it out of you. For I am just as I am; and take me for that.
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,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Liebhaber in allen Gestalten", written 1810, first published 1815
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 54
Word count: 274