Da unten im Tale
German source:
Anon.
Läufts Wasser so trüb,
Und i kann dirs net sagen,
I hab di so lieb.
Sprichst allweil von Liebe,
Sprichst allweil von Treu,
Und a bissele Falschheit
Is auch wohl dabei.
Und wenn i dirs zehnmal sag,
Daß i di lieb,
Und du willst nit verstehn, muß i
Halt weiter gehn.
Für die Zeit, wo du g’liebt mi hast,
Dank i dir schön,
Und i wünsch, daß dirs anderswo
Besser mag gehn.
Down There in the Valley
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The water runs so murkily,
And I cannot tell you
How much I love you.
You speak only of love,
Speak only of constancy,
And a bit of falsehood
Goes with it too.
And if I tell you ten times
That I love you,
And you don’t understand—
I shall have to go on my way.
For the time that you loved me,
I give you thanks,
And wish that elsewhere
You might fare better.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Da unten im Tale
German source:
Anon.
Down There in the Valley
English source:
Richard Stokes
Da unten im Tale
Down there in the valley
Läufts Wasser so trüb,
The water runs so murkily,
Und i kann dirs net sagen,
And I cannot tell you
I hab di so lieb.
How much I love you.
Sprichst allweil von Liebe,
You speak only of love,
Sprichst allweil von Treu,
Speak only of constancy,
Und a bissele Falschheit
And a bit of falsehood
Is auch wohl dabei.
Goes with it too.
Und wenn i dirs zehnmal sag,
And if I tell you ten times
Daß i di lieb,
That I love you,
Und du willst nit verstehn, muß i
And you don’t understand—
Halt weiter gehn.
I shall have to go on my way.
Für die Zeit, wo du g’liebt mi hast,
For the time that you loved me,
Dank i dir schön,
I give you thanks,
Und i wünsch, daß dirs anderswo
And wish that elsewhere
Besser mag gehn.
You might fare better.
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
Poet
Performances
Upcoming Performances
- Rückert Lieder 13 Oct 2024
Previously performed at:
- 63. Lotte Betts-Dean, Ryan Corbett: A Musical Nightcap 26 Oct 2022
- 06. Winners of the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform: Siân Dicker & Krystal Tunnicliffe 28 Feb 2021
- Songs of Youth & Experience: Anna Stéphany & Sholto Kynoch 14 Oct 2017
- Liebeslieder Walzer 24 Oct 2016
- Spanisches Liederspiel: Rowan Pierce, Ann Murray, Timothy Langston, Thomas Allen & Malcolm Martineau 20 Oct 2016
- Schubert and Brahms: Birgid Steinberger & Julius Drake 18 Oct 2016