Jung Volkers Lied
German source:
Eduard Mörike
Und die mich schwang in Kissen,
Die war ein schön, froh, braunes Weib,
Wollte nichts vom Mannsvolk wissen.
Sie scherzte nur und lachte laut
Und liess die Freier stehen.
„Möcht’ lieber sein des Windes Braut,
Als in die Ehe geh’n!“
Da kam der Wind, da nahm der Wind
Als Buhle sie gefangen,
Von dem hat sie ein lustig Kind,
Jung Volker, mich, empfangen.
Jung Volker's song
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And rocked me on my pillows,
She was a pretty, happy, dusky lass,
Who wanted nothing to do with men.
She only joked and laughed aloud,
Ignoring those who wooed her.
‘I’d sooner be the wind’s bride,
Than enter any marriage!’
The wind then came
And took her as lover,
And she conceived me, a cheery child,
Jung Volker is my name.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Jung Volkers Lied
German source:
Eduard Mörike
Jung Volker's song
English source:
Richard Stokes
Und die mich trug im Mutterarm,
And she who carried me in her arms
Und die mich schwang in Kissen,
And rocked me on my pillows,
Die war ein schön, froh, braunes Weib,
She was a pretty, happy, dusky lass,
Wollte nichts vom Mannsvolk wissen.
Who wanted nothing to do with men.
Sie scherzte nur und lachte laut
She only joked and laughed aloud,
Und liess die Freier stehen.
Ignoring those who wooed her.
„Möcht’ lieber sein des Windes Braut,
‘I’d sooner be the wind’s bride,
Als in die Ehe geh’n!“
Than enter any marriage!’
Da kam der Wind, da nahm der Wind
The wind then came
Als Buhle sie gefangen,
And took her as lover,
Von dem hat sie ein lustig Kind,
And she conceived me, a cheery child,
Jung Volker, mich, empfangen.
Jung Volker is my name.
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
Eduard Mörike
Eduard Friedrich Mörike was a German Romantic poet. Mörike was born in Ludwigsburg. His father was Karl Friedrich Mörike (d. 1817), a district medical councilor; his mother was Charlotte Bayer. He attended the Latin school at Ludwigsburg, and the…