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Seit ich so viele Weiber sah, Schlägt mir mein Herz so warm, Es summt und brummt mir hier und da, Als wie ein Bienenschwarm. Und ist ihr Feuer meinem gleich, Ihr Auge schön und klar, So schlaget wie der Hammerstreich Mein Herzchen immerdar. Bum, bum, bum. Ich wünschte tausend Weiber mir, wenn's recht den Göttern wär; da tanzt ich wie ein Murmeltier in's Kreuz und in die Quer. Das wär ein Leben auf der Welt, da wollt' ich lustig seyn, ich hüpfte wie ein Haas durch's Feld, und's Herz schlüg immerdrein. Bum, bum, bum. Wer Weiber nicht zu schätzen weiss; ist weder kalt noch warm, und liegt als wie ein Brocken Eis in eines Mädchens Arm. Da bin ich schon ein andrer Mann, ich spring' um sie herum; mein Herz klopf froh an ihrem an und machet : bum, bum bum.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Emanuel Schikaneder (1751 - 1812), from "Spiegel von Arcadia". [author's text not yet checked 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 Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg (1874 - 1951), "Langsamer Walzer", alternate title: "Arie aus dem Spiegel von Arcadien", from Brettl-Lieder, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Martha Elliott) , "Slow waltz", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Slow waltzes", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Valse lente", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Pilar Lirio
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 26
Word count: 141
On seeing so many lovely maids My heart beats with heat, It hums and thrums all about, Like a swarm of bees. And if her flame matches mine, Within her beautiful clear eyes, Just like the blows of a hammer Does my little heart pound. Boom, boom, boom. I'd wish for a thousand women, If the gods were truly just, Then I'd dance around like a marmot1 This way and that, That would be a life, in this world, That I'd love to have. I'd hop like a hare through the fields, And within my heart would always beat. Boom, boom, boom. He that doesn't treasure women Is neither cold nor warm And lies like a block of ice On a girl's arm. But I'm another man, I dance all around her; And my heart beats happily against hers And goes: boom, boom, boom.
1 note: marmots were often used by travelling musicians with hurdy-gurdies to perform various tricks.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by Michael P Rosewall, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel Schikaneder (1751 - 1812), from "Spiegel von Arcadia".
This text was added to the website: 2012-04-15
Line count: 26
Word count: 144