Songs

Da unten im Tale

by Johannes Brahms From 49 Deutsche Volkslieder (1894) WoO 33

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Text & Translation

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Da unten im Tale
German source: Anon.

Da unten im Tale
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

Down there in the valley
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

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