Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Ein Knie geht einsam durch die Welt. Es ist ein Knie, sonst nichts! Es ist kein Baum! Es ist kein Zelt! Es ist ein Knie, sonst nichts. Im Kriege ward einmal ein Mann erschossen um und um. Das Knie allein blieb unverletzt - als wär's ein Heiligtum. Seitdem geht's einsam durch die Welt. Es ist ein Knie, sonst nichts. Es ist kein Baum, es ist kein Zelt. Es ist ein Knie, sonst nichts.
Authorship:
- by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Das Knie", appears in Galgenlieder [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 Will Elfes (1924 - 1971), "Das Knie" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Farber (b. 1945), "Das Knie", from Galgenlieder, no. 16 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Hermann Franz Graener (1872 - 1944), "Das Knie", op. 43 no. 2, published 1917 [ voice and piano ], from Palmström singt. Sieben Galgenlieder von Christian Morgenstern, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sofia Gubaidulina (b. 1931), "Das Knie", 1996, first performed 1997 [ mezzo-soprano, flute, bayan, percussion, and contrabass ], from Galgenlieder à 5 1996, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sofia Gubaidulina (b. 1931), "Das Knie", 1996, first performed 1996 [ mezzo-soprano, percussion, and contrabass ], from Galgenlieder à 3 1996/1998, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Lennart Hedwall (b. 1932), "Das Knie", 1959, published 1964 [ men's chorus a cappella ], from Fünf Galgenlieder, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mátyás György Seiber (1905 - 1960), "Das Knie", 1929 [ soprano and clarinet ], from Drei Morgenstern-Lieder , no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rudi Spring (b. 1962), "Das Knie", op. 19c (Galgenliederbuch, 3. Folge) no. 3 (1995/6), published 2003 [ voice and piano ], from Galgenliederbuch nach Gedichten von Christian Morgenstern, no. 17, München (Munich), Verlag vierdreiunddreissig [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Nicolaas (Koos) Jaspers) , "De knie", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le genou", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-11-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
Un genou se promène seul de par le monde. C'est un genou, rien de plus! Ce n'est pas un arbre! ce n'est pas une tente C'est un genou, rien de plus! Une fois un homme à la guerre fut tué et retué. Seul son genou ne fut pas touché -- comme si c'était un sanctuaire. Depuis il va seul de par le monde C'est un genou, rien de plus. Ce n'est pas un arbre! ce n'est pas une tente. C'est un genou, rien de plus.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2011 by Pierre Mathé, (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:
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Das Knie", appears in Galgenlieder
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 84