Songs

Verlorne Müh’

by Gustav Mahler From Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1899) 1892-99, revised 1901

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Verlorne Müh’
German source: Anon.

SIE
Büble, wir wollen ausse gehe,
Wollen wir? Unsere Lämmer besehe,
Komm, liebs Büberle,
Komm, ich bitt.

ER
Närrisches Dinterle,
Ich geh dir halt nit!

SIE
Willst vielleicht ä Bissel nasche,
Hol dir was aus meiner Tasch;
Hol, liebs Büberle,
Hol, ich bitt.

ER
Närrisches Dinterle,
Ich nasch' dir halt nit.

SIE
Gelt, ich soll mein Herz dir schenke,
Immer willst an mich gedenke;
Nimms, Liebs Büberle!
Nimms, ich bitt.

ER
Närrisches Dinterle,
Ich mag es halt nit!

Wasted effort
English translation © Richard Stokes

SHE
Hey laddie, shall we go walking,
Shall we see to our lambs?
Come, dear laddie,
Come, I beg you.

HE
Foolish girl,
I’ll not go with you.

SHE
Perhaps you’d like a little nibble,
Take a morsel from my pack;
Take it, dear lad,
Take something, I beg you.

HE
Foolish girl,
I’ll take no nibbles from you.

SHE
I’ll offer you my heart, then,
So you’ll always think of me;
Take it, dear laddie!
Take it, I beg you.

HE
Foolish girl,
I’ll have none of it!

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Verlorne Müh’
German source: Anon.

Wasted effort
English source: Richard Stokes

SIE
SHE
Büble, wir wollen ausse gehe,
Hey laddie, shall we go walking,
Wollen wir? Unsere Lämmer besehe,
Shall we see to our lambs?
Komm, liebs Büberle,
Come, dear laddie,
Komm, ich bitt.
Come, I beg you.

ER
HE
Närrisches Dinterle,
Foolish girl,
Ich geh dir halt nit!
I’ll not go with you.

SIE
SHE
Willst vielleicht ä Bissel nasche,
Perhaps you’d like a little nibble,
Hol dir was aus meiner Tasch;
Take a morsel from my pack;
Hol, liebs Büberle,
Take it, dear lad,
Hol, ich bitt.
Take something, I beg you.

ER
HE
Närrisches Dinterle,
Foolish girl,
Ich nasch' dir halt nit.
I’ll take no nibbles from you.

SIE
SHE
Gelt, ich soll mein Herz dir schenke,
I’ll offer you my heart, then,
Immer willst an mich gedenke;
So you’ll always think of me;
Nimms, Liebs Büberle!
Take it, dear laddie!
Nimms, ich bitt.
Take it, I beg you.