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Translation - German-English - Ich kam vor einer Frau Wirthin Haus, Man fragt...Current status Translation
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| Ich kam vor einer Frau Wirthin Haus, Man fragt... | | Source language: German
Ich kam vor einer Frau Wirthin Haus,
Man fragt mich, wer ich wäre,
Ich bin ein armer Schwartenhals,
Ich eß und trink so gerne.
2. Man führt mich in die Stuben ein,
Da bot man mir zu trinken,
Die Augen ließ ich umher gehn,
Den Becher ließ ich sinken.
3. Man setzt mich oben an den Tisch,
Als ich ein Kaufherr wäre,
Und da es an ein Zahlen ging,
Mein Säckel stand mir leere.
4. Da ich des Nachts wollt schlafen gahn,
Man wieß mich in die Scheuer,
Da ward mir armen Schwartenhals,
Mein Lachen viel zu theuer.
5. Und da ich in die Scheuer kam,
Da hub ich an zu nisteln,
Da stachen mich die Hagendorn,
Dazu die rauhen Disteln.
6. Da ich zu Morgens früh aufstand,
Der Reif lag auf dem Dache,
Da mußt ich armer Schwartenhals
Meins Unglücks selber lachen.
7. Ich nahm mein Schwerd wohl in die Hand,
Und gürt es an die Seiten,
Ich armer mußt zu Fuße gehn,
Weil ich nicht hatt' zu reiten.
8. Ich hob mich auf und ging davon
Und macht mich auf die Straßen,
Mir kam ein reicher Kaufmanns-Sohn,
Sein Tasch mußt er mir lassen. | Remarks about the translation | I found different versions of this song and I'm not sure if that's correct.
This is the version sung by Elster Silberflug to which I would like to compare:
www.4shared.com/audio/_qlRTy3g/Elster_Silberflug_-_Ich_Fahr_D.html
obs.: the file doesn't need to be dowloaded. |
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| I came to a certain Mrs. Wirthin's ... | | Target language: English
I came to a certain Mrs. Wirthin's house,
They asked me who I was,
I am just a poor black-neck,
I'd eat and drink so gladly.
2. I was led to the pub,
And there was bade to drink,
My eyes I let wander about,
The goblet I let sink.
3. I was set on the table,
Like I was a merchant,
And since it has with counts to do,
My coffer stood there empty.
4. Because I wanted to sleep the night,
I was whisked into the barn,
And there this poor black-neck,
for my laughing had to pay.
5. And when I came into the barn,
And when I started to nestle,
Then the hawthorns stabbed me,
And also the raw thistles.
6. Because I awoke early to the morn,
The frost was on the roof,
There, this poor black-neck had to
Laugh at my bad luck myself.
7. I took the sword into my hand,
And girded it on my side,
My poor body must travel afoot,
Because I had nothing to ride.
8. I hopped up and went from there,
And got myself to the streets,
To me came a rich merchant's son,
Who had to leave me his bag. | Remarks about the translation | this is old German and tricky. I tried to capture the poetic flavor, but this will definitely need to be reviewed!
black-neck is the literal translation; this is just a term for a ruffian, a highwayman, a vagabond. |
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Validated by Lein - 9 August 2010 11:49
Last messages | | | | |
28 July 2010 18:43 | | 
LeinNumber of messages: 3389 | It sounds like a nice song!
Some minor points:
- under 3. As I was a merchant -> this sounds like 'because I was a merchant'. Is that what you mean or did you want to say 'as if I was...' ?
- under 4: should this not be something like 'there, my laughing became (much) too expensive for my poor-body'?
- under 5. Should 'because' not be replaced by 'when' (first time) and 'then' (after that)?
- also under 5. I don't understand the last sentence (neither in German nor in English). Could you explain what it means?
- under 8. I think the meaning of the German text is that the merchant's son had to 'leave him' his bag (give it to him, i.e. he stole it), not 'show it to him'.
- general point: poor-body is not a common expression in English. It would be good if we could find a better word here (but none springs to mind just now).
My German is only so-so so it is entirely possible I misunderstood some of the German text, so please let me know what you think of my questions / suggestions  | | |
4 August 2010 20:44 | |
LeinNumber of messages: 3389 | No reply 
I have edited and set a poll. Let me know if you disagree with any of my edits | | |
4 August 2010 23:09 | | | | | |
5 August 2010 11:46 | |
LeinNumber of messages: 3389 |  Thanks! | | |
5 August 2010 12:29 | | | to a certain Mrs. Wirthin's house...> ...in front of Mrs. Wirthin's house | | |
5 August 2010 20:17 | | | Schwartenhals = black-neck? | | |
6 August 2010 13:41 | |
LeinNumber of messages: 3389 | Yes - unless you know a better word | | |
10 August 2010 21:43 | | | Thank you, everybody.
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