Text & Translation
Die Trommel gerühret
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Das Pfeifchen gespielt!
Mein Liebster gewaffnet
Dem Haufen befiehlt,
Die Lanze hoch führet,
Die Leute regieret.
Wie klopft mir das Herz!
Wie wallt mir das Blut!
O hätt' ich ein Wämslein
Und Hosen und Hut!
Ich folgt' ihm zum Tor 'naus
Mit mutigem Schritt,
Ging' durch die Provinzen,
Ging' überall mit.
Die Feinde schon weichen,
Wir schiessen da drein;
Welch' Glück sondergleichen,
Ein Mannsbild zu sein!
Bang the drum
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Sound the fife!
My lover in armour
Commands the throng,
With his spear raised high
He rules the people.
How my heart throbs!
How my blood races!
Ah, would that I had a doublet
And breeches and helmet!
I’d follow him out of the gate
With valiant stride,
I’d march through the provinces,
Wherever he went.
The foe retreats,
We fire into their ranks!
What joy without compare
To be a man!
Die Trommel gerühret
German source:
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Bang the drum
English source:
Richard Stokes
Die Trommel gerühret,
Bang the drum!
Das Pfeifchen gespielt!
Sound the fife!
Mein Liebster gewaffnet
My lover in armour
Dem Haufen befiehlt,
Commands the throng,
Die Lanze hoch führet,
With his spear raised high
Die Leute regieret.
He rules the people.
Wie klopft mir das Herz!
How my heart throbs!
Wie wallt mir das Blut!
How my blood races!
O hätt' ich ein Wämslein
Ah, would that I had a doublet
Und Hosen und Hut!
And breeches and helmet!
Ich folgt' ihm zum Tor 'naus
I’d follow him out of the gate
Mit mutigem Schritt,
With valiant stride,
Ging' durch die Provinzen,
I’d march through the provinces,
Ging' überall mit.
Wherever he went.
Die Feinde schon weichen,
The foe retreats,
Wir schiessen da drein;
We fire into their ranks!
Welch' Glück sondergleichen,
What joy without compare
Ein Mannsbild zu sein!
To be a man!
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the classical and romantic eras in classical music, he remains one of the most recognized and influential…
Poet
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…