Galathea
German source:
Frank Wedekind
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Dir zu küssen deine Wangen,
Weil sie so entzückend sind.
Wonne die mir widerfahre,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Dir zu küssen deine Haare,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Nimmer wehr’ mir bis ich ende,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Dir zu küssen deine Hände,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Ach, du ahnst nicht, wie ich glühe,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Dir zu küssen deine Knie,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Und was tät ich nicht, du Süße,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Dir zu küssen deine Füße,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Aber deinen Mund enthülle,
Mädchen, meinen Küßen nie,
Denn in seiner Reize Fülle,
Küßt ihn nur die Phantasie.
Ah, how I’m burning with desire
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Galathea, lovely child,
Just to kiss your cheeks,
Because they’re so enchanting.
The rapture that I feel,
Galathea, lovely child,
Just to kiss your tresses,
Because they’re so enticing.
Never resist me, till I’ve finished,
Galathea, lovely child,
Kissing your hands,
Because they’re so enticing.
Ah, you do not sense how I burn,
Galathea, lovely child,
To kiss your knees,
Because they’re so enticing.
And what wouldn’t I do, my sweet,
Galathea, lovely child,
To kiss your feet,
Because they’re so enticing.
But never expose your lips,
Sweet girl, to my kisses,
For the fullness of their charms
Can only be kissed in fantasy.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Galathea
German source:
Frank Wedekind
Ah, how I’m burning with desire
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ach, wie brenn’ ich vor Verlangen,
Ah, how I’m burning with desire,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Galathea, lovely child,
Dir zu küssen deine Wangen,
Just to kiss your cheeks,
Weil sie so entzückend sind.
Because they’re so enchanting.
Wonne die mir widerfahre,
The rapture that I feel,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Galathea, lovely child,
Dir zu küssen deine Haare,
Just to kiss your tresses,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Because they’re so enticing.
Nimmer wehr’ mir bis ich ende,
Never resist me, till I’ve finished,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Galathea, lovely child,
Dir zu küssen deine Hände,
Kissing your hands,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Because they’re so enticing.
Ach, du ahnst nicht, wie ich glühe,
Ah, you do not sense how I burn,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Galathea, lovely child,
Dir zu küssen deine Knie,
To kiss your knees,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Because they’re so enticing.
Und was tät ich nicht, du Süße,
And what wouldn’t I do, my sweet,
Galathea, schönes Kind,
Galathea, lovely child,
Dir zu küssen deine Füße,
To kiss your feet,
Weil sie so verlockend sind.
Because they’re so enticing.
Aber deinen Mund enthülle,
But never expose your lips,
Mädchen, meinen Küßen nie,
Sweet girl, to my kisses,
Denn in seiner Reize Fülle,
For the fullness of their charms
Küßt ihn nur die Phantasie.
Can only be kissed in fantasy.
Composer
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg or Schönberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School.
Poet
Frank Wedekind
Benjamin Franklin Wedekind (July 24, 1864 – March 9, 1918), usually known as Frank Wedekind, was a German playwright. His work, which often criticizes bourgeois attitudes, is considered to anticipate expressionism and was influential in the…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Devilishly Good Songs 24 Oct 2023
- Das Lied Winner's Recital 18 Oct 2023
- Late-Night Salon 23 Oct 2017