by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
The sweetest lad was Jamie
Language: English
Available translation(s): FRE
The sweetest lad was Jamie, The sweetest, the dearest; And well did Jamie love me, And not a fault has he. Yet one he had, it spoke his praise, He knew not woman's wish to teaze, He knew not all our silly ways, Alas! The woe [is]1 me! For though I loved my Jamie Sincerely and dearly, Yet, often when he woo'd me, I held my head on high; And huffed and tossed with saucy air, And danced with Donald at the fair, And placed his ribbon in my hair, And Jamie, -- passed him by. So, when the war-pipes sounded, Dear Jamie he left me, And now some other maiden Will Jamie turn to woo. My heart will break, and well it may, For who would word of pity say To her who threw a heart away, So faithful and so true? Oh! Knew he how I loved him, Sincerely and dearly! And I would fly to meet him, Oh! happy were the day! Some kind, kind friend, oh! come between, And tell him of my altered mien! That Jeanie has not Jeanie been Since Jamie went away!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with William Smyth, English Lyrics, London, William Pickering, 1850, pages 165-166.
1 Beethoven: "to"
Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "Ballad", subtitle: "Scotch" [author's text checked 1 time 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), "The sweetest lad was Jamie", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 5 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le plus doux garçon était Jamie", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "Der schönste Bub war Henny, der schönste, der beste!"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 188
Der schönste Bub war Henny, der schönste, der beste!
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Der schönste Bub war Henny Der schönste, der beste! Mich liebt' er, ach, so zärtlich, Von jedem Fehler rein! Doch einen, und der bracht'ihm Glanz: Nicht kannt' er Mädchenwünsche ganz, Nicht unsrer Launen Dornenkranz. O weh! Zu meiner Pein! Wohl liebt' ich meinen Henny So herzlich und innig! Doch oftmals, wenn er fleht'mich, Warf ich mein Köpfchen frei; Mich blähend, tanzt' ich Paar an Paar Am Kirchweihfest, mit Donald gar, Schlang seine Bänder in mein Haar, Henny schlich stumm vorbei. Da rief die Kriegstrompete, Mein Trauter, er folgte! Bald hört' ein schöner Mädchen, Daß sie die Liebst' ihm sei. Dann bricht mein Herz! Und wohl dann mir! Denn wer schenkt Mitleidsworte ihr, Die lieblos, eitel trieb von hier Ein Herz so fromm und treu? O wüßt' er, wie ich liebt'ihn So redlich, so innig! Wie gern ich zu ihm flöge: Gesegnet wär' der Tag! Ach, käm' ein milder Freund daher, Erzählt' ihm, wie ich welkte sehr, Wie Jenny ist nicht Jenny mehr, Seit Henny sprach: gut' Nacht.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Der schönste Bub war Henny, der schönste, der beste!" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "Ballad", subtitle: "Scotch"
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: 2004-08-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 168