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.
Waldemar: Herrgott, weißt du, was du tatest, als klein Tove mir verstarb? Triebst mich aus der letzten Freistatt, die ich meinem Glück erwarb! Herr, du solltest wohl erröten: Bettlers einz'ges Lamm zu töten! Herrgott, ich bin auch ein Herrscher, und es ist mein Herrscherglauben: Meinem Untertanen darf ich nie die letzte Leuchte rauben. Falsche Wege schlägst du ein: Das heißt wohl Tyrann, nicht Herrscher sein! Herrgott, deine Engelscharen singen stets nur deinen Preis, doch dir wäre mehr vonnöten einer, der zu tadeln weiß. Und wer mag solches wagen? Laß mich, Herr, die Kappe deines Hofnarrn tragen!
Authorship
- by Robert Franz Arnold (originally Levisohn) (1872 - 1938) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Jens Peter Jacobsen (1847 - 1885), no title, appears in Gurresange, no. 7
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), "Herrgott, weißt du, was du tatest (Waldemar)", c1900, published 1912 [ soli, chorus, orchestra ], from Gurrelieder, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2013-08-14
Line count: 19
Word count: 96
Waldemar: Signore Iddio, sai tu cosa hai fatto quando mi è morta la piccola Tove? Mi hai scacciato dall'ultimo asilo, dove avevo trovato la felicità! Signore, dovresti arrossire per questo: uccidere al povero l'unico agnello! Signore, anch'io sono un sovrano, e questo, in quanto sovrano, io penso: non mi sognerei mai di sottrarre, ai miei sudditi, la loro unica risorsa. Hai preso una strada sbagliata, Signore: la strada di un tiranno, non quella di un vero sovrano! Signore Iddio, le tue angeliche schiere stanno sempre a cantare le tue lodi, ma forse avresti più bisogno di uno che sappia criticarti. E chi potrebbe osare tanto? Consentimi, Signore, di indossare il cappello di giullare alla tua corte.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2008 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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: 
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Robert Franz Arnold (originally Levisohn) (1872 - 1938)
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Jens Peter Jacobsen (1847 - 1885), no title, appears in Gurresange, no. 7
This text was added to the website: 2008-12-31
Line count: 19
Word count: 116