Songs
Der Contrabandiste
by Robert Schumann From Spanisches Liederspiel (1849) Op. 74 24–29.iii.1849
Der Contrabandiste
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
Weiss wohl Respekt mir zu schaffen.
Allen zu trotzen, ich weiss es,
Furcht nur, die hab’ ich vor keinem.
Drum nur lustig, nur lustig!
Wer kauft Seide, Tabak!
Ja wahrlich, mein Rösslein ist müde,
Ich eil’, ja eile,
Sonst fasst mich noch gar die Runde,
Los geht der Spektakel dann.
Lauf nur zu, mein lustiges Pferdchen,
Ach, mein liebes, gutes Pferdchen,
Weisst ja davon mich zu tragen!
The Smuggler
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And know well how to inspire respect;
I know how to defy everyone,
And I fear no one.
So let us be merry!
Who shall buy my silk and tobacco?
Truly, my little horse is tired,
I hurry, yes, hurry,
Otherwise the patrol will catch me,
And then things will go very badly!
Run, my merry horse,
Ah, my dear, good steed,
You know well how to carry me!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der Contrabandiste
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
The Smuggler
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ich bin der Contrabandiste,
I am the smuggler,
Weiss wohl Respekt mir zu schaffen.
And know well how to inspire respect;
Allen zu trotzen, ich weiss es,
I know how to defy everyone,
Furcht nur, die hab’ ich vor keinem.
And I fear no one.
Drum nur lustig, nur lustig!
So let us be merry!
Wer kauft Seide, Tabak!
Who shall buy my silk and tobacco?
Ja wahrlich, mein Rösslein ist müde,
Truly, my little horse is tired,
Ich eil’, ja eile,
I hurry, yes, hurry,
Sonst fasst mich noch gar die Runde,
Otherwise the patrol will catch me,
Los geht der Spektakel dann.
And then things will go very badly!
Lauf nur zu, mein lustiges Pferdchen,
Run, my merry horse,
Ach, mein liebes, gutes Pferdchen,
Ah, my dear, good steed,
Weisst ja davon mich zu tragen!
You know well how to carry me!
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
Poet
Emanuel Geibel
Emanuel von Geibel , German poet and playwright. He was born at Lübeck, the son of a pastor. He was originally intended for his father's profession and studied at Bonn and Berlin, but his real interests lay not in theology but in classical and…