This is a literal, line-by-line translation of the song. I have tried
to maintain the same sequence of lines to the extent possible, but in
some cases this is not possible, e.g.
Den allersonigsten Sonnenschein
Läßt uns der Himmel kosten.
One previous answer has translated this as 'The brightest sunshine
lets us taste the heavens.' However, the accusastive 'den' shows that
Sonnenschein (sunshine) is in fact the object of the verb kosten (to
taste), so the translation must be:
The heavens give us a taste
of the brightest sunshine of all.
There are similar declension problems in the rest of the other
translation, e.g. 'ins Land der Franken fahren'. is translated as
'travel THROUGH the land of the Franks.' This would be 'DURCH DAS Land
der Franken fahren' or the rather awkward sounding 'IM Land der
Franken fahren'. 'Ins Land' is a contraction of 'In das Land' or 'to
the land.'
The translation is below.
Élise Hendrick
Translator/Interpreter/Editor/Writer
1. Get up, the air is fresh and clean,
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
The heavens give us a taste
Of the brightest sunshine of all.
All I need now is a staff and the habit
Of the wandering scholars;
In the middle of summertime,
I want to go to the land of the Franconians.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
To go to the land of the Franconians!
2. The woods are green, the hunting's good,
The grain has become heavy;
They can hardly load the ships
On the river Main.
Soon Autumn, too, will come upon us,
The press awaits the wine;
Kilian, protector of the vintners,
Will give us a delicious gift.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Will give us a delicious gift.
3. Pilgrims travel through the valley,
With their banners flying
Their double chorus brightly greets
The vast sunny garden.
How I would love to come along,
But their priest did not want me.
So I must wander sideways through the woods,
Like a mangy lamb.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
Like a mangy lamb.
4. I've climbed my way up
To Saint Veit of Staffelstein
And see the land about the Main
Lying at my feet
From Bamberg to Grabfeldgau
Mountains and hills
Frame the broad Au with its shining streams.
If only wings would grow on me!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
If only wings would grow on me
5. The hermit is not in his home,
It is time to be reaping
I see him outside on the heap
With a woman gathering.
The lost student fervently prays:
Dear Lord, give us something to drink!
But if you're with a pretty gatherer,
Then you may wait awhile
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
You may wait awhile.
6. Hermit, it just won't do
For you to leave like this!
I see that in the cellar
there's a very good year (i.e. of wine)
Ho! I'll break down the doors
And drink what I find.
O Saint Veit of Staffelstein,
Forgive my thirst and sin!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Forgive my thirst and sin. |
