Songs

Der Husar, trara!

by Robert Schumann From Vier Husarenlieder von Nikolaus Lenau (1851) Op. 117 17–18.iii.1851

If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.

Text & Translation

View IPA

Der Husar, trara!
German source: Nikolaus Lenau

Der Husar,
Trara!
Was ist die Gefahr?
Sein herzliebster Schatz!
Sie winkt, mit einem Satz
Ist er da, trara!

Der Husar,
Trara!
Was ist die Gefahr?
Sein Wein; flink! flink!
Säbel blink! Säbel trink!
Trink Blut! trara!

Der Husar,
Trara!
Was ist die Gefahr?
Sein herzliebster Klang,
Sein Leibgesang,
Schlafgesang, trara!

Hurrah for the hussars!
English translation © Richard Stokes

Hurrah
For the hussar!
What’s danger to him?
His dearest sweetheart!
She beckons, with a bound
He’s at her side, trara!

Hurrah
For the hussar!
What’s danger to him?
His wine; let it swiftly flow!
His flashing sabre! Let it drink!
Drink blood! Trara!

Hurrah
For the hussar!
What’s danger to him?
The sound he loves best,
His favourite song,
His lullaby, trara!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Der Husar, trara!
German source: Nikolaus Lenau

Hurrah for the hussars!
English source: Richard Stokes

Der Husar,
Hurrah
Trara!
For the hussar!
Was ist die Gefahr?
What’s danger to him?
Sein herzliebster Schatz!
His dearest sweetheart!
Sie winkt, mit einem Satz
She beckons, with a bound
Ist er da, trara!
He’s at her side, trara!

Der Husar,
Hurrah
Trara!
For the hussar!
Was ist die Gefahr?
What’s danger to him?
Sein Wein; flink! flink!
His wine; let it swiftly flow!
Säbel blink! Säbel trink!
His flashing sabre! Let it drink!
Trink Blut! trara!
Drink blood! Trara!

Der Husar,
Hurrah
Trara!
For the hussar!
Was ist die Gefahr?
What’s danger to him?
Sein herzliebster Klang,
The sound he loves best,
Sein Leibgesang,
His favourite song,
Schlafgesang, trara!
His lullaby, trara!

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

Nikolaus Lenau

Nikolaus Lenau was the nom de plume of Nikolaus Franz Niembsch Edler von Strehlenau, a German-language Austrian poet. He was born at Schadat, now Lenauheim, Romania, then in Hungary. His father, a Habsburg government official, died in 1807 in…

Help us with a Donation

Enjoying our texts and translations? Help us continue to offer this service to all.

Make a Donation

Select Tickets