by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
O would I were but that sweet
Language: English
O would I were but that sweet linnet! That I had my apple-tree too! Could sit all the sunny day in it, With nothing but singing to do! I'm weary with toiling and spinning; And Dermot I never can see, Nor sure am I Dermot of winning, There's never good luck for poor me! I tried with my sweetest behaviour To tell our good priest my distress; And ask'd him to speak in my favour, When Dermot came next to confess. But he said I was but a beginner, And from love and temptation must flee! So if love will but make me a sinner, There's never good luck for poor me! Ye Saints, with the Virgin! Believe me, I join with the priest in your praise! Contrive but my Dermot to give me, And I'll love you the length of my days. In vain would they bid me be wiser, And never my Dermot to see, Bad luck to advice and adviser! Good luck! To dear Dermot and me!
Text Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "O would I were but that sweet", WoO. 154 (12 Irische Lieder) no. 9, G. 225 no. 9, published 1812/3 [ voice, piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Das verliebte Mädchen"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 170
Das verliebte Mädchen
Language: German (Deutsch) after the English
O wär' ich der Hänfling im Hag dort, Und wäre ein Birnbaum mein Haus, Zu sitzen den sonnigen Tag dort Und singen und ruhen mich aus! Bin satt dies Sichplacken und Spinnen, Und Dermot, wo find' ich ihn, ach? Fast fürcht' ich, ihn nie zu gewinnen, Überall folgt ein Unstern mir nach! Ich malte, ergreifend die Hände Des Paters, mein Leid ihm getreu; Und daß er für mich sich verwende, Käm' Dermot zur Beichte aufs neu'! Doch er sagte, ich sei noch nicht mündig, Müsse Lieb' und Verlockungen fliehn. Macht wirklich denn Liebe mich sündig? Ein Unstern scheint mit mir zu ziehn. Marie und ihr Heil'gen! Euch neigen Soll stets sich mein dankbarere Sinn; Meinen Dermot nur gebt mir zu eigen, Und ich lieb' euch so lang' wie ich bin. Umsonst rät Verstand und der Pater, Mein Dermot, zu lassen von dir; Folge Unglück dem Rat und dem Rater, Und Glück meinem Dermot und mir!
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Das verliebte Mädchen" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 155