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 licenses@email.lieder.example.net
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 Werwolf eines Nachts entwich von Weib und Kind und sich begab an eines Dorfschullehrers Grab und bat ihn: "Bitte, beuge mich!" Der Dorfschulmeister stieg hinauf auf seines Blechschilds Messingknauf und sprach zum Wolf, der seine Pfoten geduldig kreuzte vor dem Toten: "Der Werwolf" - sprach der gute Mann, "des Weswolfs, Genitiv sodann, dem Wemwolf, Dativ, wie man's nennt, den Wenwolf, - damit hat's ein End." Dem Werwolf schmeichelten die Fälle, er rollte seine Augenbälle. "Indessen," bat er, "füge doch zur Einzahl auch die Mehrzahl noch!" Der Dorfschulmeister aber mußte gestehn, dass er von ihr nichts wußte, Zwar Wölfe gäb's in großer Schar, doch "Wer" gäb's nur im Singular. Der Wolf erhob sich tränenblind - er hatte ja doch Weib und Kind!! Doch da er kein Gelehrter eben, so schied er dankend und ergeben.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Der Werwolf", 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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Der Werwolf", 2010 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Richard Farber (b. 1945), "Der Werwolf", from Galgenlieder, no. 60 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Timothy Hoekman , "Der Werwolf Rag", 2007, published 2012 [ bass and piano ], from Drei Legenden, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Peter Visser (b. 1939), "Der Werwolf", 1978, from Galgenlieder, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , rhymed paraphrase, copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le loup-garou", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 131
Une nuit un loup-garou s'échappa de chez sa femme et ses enfants et se rendit sur la tombe d'un maître d'école de village et l'implora : « S'il te plait, décline-moi ! » Le maître d'école de village se leva sur le bouton de laiton de sa plaque de métal, et dit au loup qui patiemment avait croisé ses pattes devant le mort : « Le loup-garou -- dit le brave homme, du loup-garou, génitif, ensuite au loup-garou, datif, comme on dit, le loup-garou, pour en finir. » Les cas flattaient le loup, et il roulait ses yeux comme des billes. Il lui demanda « En attendant, ajoute donc aussi le pluriel au singulier ! » Mais le maître d'école de village dut convenir qu'il n'en savait rien. Sûr, il y a de grandes meutes de loups, mais on ne trouve que garou au singulier ; Le loup se leva, aveuglé par les larmes -- il avait pourtant bien femme et enfant !! Mais comme il n'était pas un savant, alors il prit congé avec d'humbles remerciements.
Text 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Der Werwolf", appears in Galgenlieder
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 169