Die heiligen drei Könige
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Sie frugen in jedem Städtchen:
‘Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem,
Ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen?’
Die Jungen und Alten, sie wußten’s nicht,
Die Könige zogen weiter;
Sie folgten einem goldenen Stern,
Der leuchtete lieblich und heiter.
Der Stern blieb stehn über Josephs Haus,
Da sind sie hineingegangen;
Das Öchslein brüllte, das Kindlein schrie,
Die heiligen drei Könige sangen.
The three holy kings
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
They asked in every town:
‘Where is the way to Bethlehem,
Dear boys and girls?’
Young and old, they did not know,
The three kings journeyed on;
They followed a star of golden light
That shone down bright and cheerily.
The star stood still over Joseph’s house,
And there they went inside;
The little ox bellowed, the baby cried,
The three holy kings, they sang.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Die heiligen drei Könige
German source:
Heinrich Heine
The three holy kings
English source:
Richard Stokes
Die heiligen drei Könige aus Morgenland,
The three holy kings from Eastern lands,
Sie frugen in jedem Städtchen:
They asked in every town:
‘Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem,
‘Where is the way to Bethlehem,
Ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen?’
Dear boys and girls?’
Die Jungen und Alten, sie wußten’s nicht,
Young and old, they did not know,
Die Könige zogen weiter;
The three kings journeyed on;
Sie folgten einem goldenen Stern,
They followed a star of golden light
Der leuchtete lieblich und heiter.
That shone down bright and cheerily.
Der Stern blieb stehn über Josephs Haus,
The star stood still over Joseph’s house,
Da sind sie hineingegangen;
And there they went inside;
Das Öchslein brüllte, das Kindlein schrie,
The little ox bellowed, the baby cried,
Die heiligen drei Könige sangen.
The three holy kings, they sang.
Composer
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems. Read more here.
Poet
Heinrich Heine
Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…