Songs
Röslein dreie in der Reihe blühn so rot
by Johannes Brahms From Zigeunerlieder, 'Gypsy Songs' (solo version) (1886)
Röslein dreie in der Reihe blühn so rot
German source:
Hugo Conrat
Daß der Bursch zum Mädel gehe, ist kein Verbot!
Lieber Gott, wenn das verboten wär,
Ständ die schöne weite Welt schon längst nicht mehr,
Ledig bleiben Sünde wär!
Schönstes Städtchen in Alföld ist Ketschkemet
Dort gibt es gar viele Mädchen schmuck und nett!
Freunde, sucht euch dort ein Bräutchen aus,
Freit um ihre Hand und gründet euer Haus,
Freudenbecher leeret aus!
Three little red roses bloom side by side
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
It’s no crime for a lad to visit his lass!
Dear God, if that were a crime,
This fair wide world would long ago have ceased to exist,
Staying single would be a sin!
The loveliest town in Alföld is Kecskemét,
Where many smart and nice girls live!
Friends, find yourselves a young bride there,
Win her hand and set up house,
Drain beakers of joy!
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Röslein dreie in der Reihe blühn so rot
German source:
Hugo Conrat
Three little red roses bloom side by side
English source:
Richard Stokes
Röslein dreie in der Reihe blühn so rot,
Three little red roses bloom side by side,
Daß der Bursch zum Mädel gehe, ist kein Verbot!
It’s no crime for a lad to visit his lass!
Lieber Gott, wenn das verboten wär,
Dear God, if that were a crime,
Ständ die schöne weite Welt schon längst nicht mehr,
This fair wide world would long ago have ceased to exist,
Ledig bleiben Sünde wär!
Staying single would be a sin!
Schönstes Städtchen in Alföld ist Ketschkemet
The loveliest town in Alföld is Kecskemét,
Dort gibt es gar viele Mädchen schmuck und nett!
Where many smart and nice girls live!
Freunde, sucht euch dort ein Bräutchen aus,
Friends, find yourselves a young bride there,
Freit um ihre Hand und gründet euer Haus,
Win her hand and set up house,
Freudenbecher leeret aus!
Drain beakers of joy!
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
Poet
Hugo Conrat
Hugo Conrat is most known for his German adaptations of the Hungarian folksongs in Zigeunerlieder (Brahms). He was a member of Brahms' circle in Vienna.