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Es ging sich unsre Fraue, Der Herr erbarm' sich unser! Des Morgens in dem Taue, Der Herr erbarm' sich unser! Da begegnet ihr ein Junge, In seiner großen Güte! Sein Bart war ihm einsprungen! In seiner großen Güte! "Wollst mir doch um dein Leben Ein Almosen geben, Gib mir das gülden Ringelein Von deinem schönen Fingerlein." Den Ring hat sie gegeben Ihm um ihr junges Leben. Der Junge zog in Krieg und Streit, Gewann sich Ehr' und gute Beut'. Er zog zur lust'gen Zeche Mit seinen Brüdern freche. Er schlug den Bruder überm Spiel, Ging unter die Räuber wüste. Ging unter die bösen Räuber Und raubt zum Zeitvertreibe. Dann ward er eingefangen Und an den Galgen gehangen. Der Räuber pocht ans Himmelstor. "Wer pochet an, wer steht davor? Ich hör' mein Ringlein an der Tür." "Ein armer Sünder steht dafür!" "Du trugst den Ring am Finger, Er schützte dich Sünder immer, Erschließet dir die Himmelstür, Sonst müßt du bleiben gar dafür." Wollst uns das ewige Leben, O Königinne, geben. Gib uns dein gülden Ringelein, Dass wir von Sünd' erlöset sein!
Notes: in Brahms' song, the second line of the first stanza is repeated as the second and fourth line in every stanza; and the sixth line of the first stanza is repeated as the sixth and eighth line of every stanza.
Note for stanza 7, line 3, word 1 : In Brahms' score we read 'Er schliesset', but I think this represents a slip of the pen: the author probably wrote 'erschliesset' (opens). It is very improbable that Our Lady's ring should close the door of heaven for the repentant man who had been protected by it during lifetime. --Lau Kanen, translator to Dutch.
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):
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es ging sich unsre Fraue", WoO. 33 no. 47, published [1894], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 47, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Nostra Senyora caminava", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Eens liep de Lieve Vrouwe", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Notre Dame marchait", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Lau Kanen [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 180
Notre Dame marchait Le Seigneur ait pitié de nous ! Dans la rosée du matin, Le Seigneur ait pitié de nous ! Là elle rencontra un jeune homme Dans sa grande bonté ! Sa barbe avait poussé ! Dans sa grande bonté ! « Veux-tu bien, sur ta vie, Me faire l'aumône, Donne-moi le petit anneau d'or De ton beau petit doigt. » Elle donna l'anneau Pour sauver sa vie. Le jeune homme partit à la guerre, Se gagna honneurs et riche butin. Alla faire joyeuse ribote Avec ses coquins de frères. Abattit un frère durant un jeu d 'argent, Se réfugia dans une bande de brigands. Se réfugia chez les méchants brigands Et briganda pour passer le temps. Puis il fut attrapé Et pendu à la potence. Le brigand frappe à la porte du paradis. « Qui frappe et qui est là ? J'entends mon petit anneau contre la porte. » « Un pauvre pêcheur est là ! » « Tu portes l'anneau au doigt, Il t'a toujours protégé, pêcheur, Il t'ouvre la porte du ciel, Sinon tu aurais du rester dehors. » [... ... ... ...]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2013 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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
This text was added to the website: 2013-06-26
Line count: 36
Word count: 177