Wes er mit mir pflaege
niemer niemen
bevinde daz, wan er und ich,
und ein kleinez vogellîn:
tandaredei,
daz mac wol getriuwe sîn.
What he did to me
May no one ever
Know but he and I
And a little bird:
Tandaredei
(Who can keep a secret).
*
Mich dunket niht sô guotes noch sô lobesam
sô diu liehte rôse und diu minne mîns man.
diu kleinen vogellîn
diu singent in dem walde: dêst menegem herzen liep.
mir enkome mîn holder geselle, ine hân der sumerwunne niet.
I think nothing so good or praiseworthy
As the bright rose, and my dear one's love.
The little bird
That sings in the forest sets many a heart a-flutter
But if my sweetheart cometh not, no summer sun can melt my butter.
*
Dû bist mîn,
ich bin dîn,
des solt dû gewis sin.
dû bist beslozzen
in mînem herzen,
verlorn ist daz sluzzelîn:
dû muost ouch immér darinne sîn.
You are mine,
I am thine,
Of this much please be certain.
You're under arrest.
Your cell? My breast.
The key? Don't know.
Really, now. You mustn't go.
There's a songbook that might interest you if you can find it - Der Zupfgeigenhansl.
Hans Breuer roamed German-speaking Europe prior to WWI, collecting folksongs. They predate Modern German by centuries. The old dialects are fascinating and informative.
RayS
Posted by: Ray | July 1, 2015 at 09:57 AM