Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
An dem Ende seiner Tage Steht der Kater Hiddigeigei, Und er denkt mit leiser Klage, Wie sein Dasein bald vorbei sei. Möchte gerne aus dem Schatze Reicher Weisheit Lehren geben, Dran [in Zukunft manche]1 Katze Haltpunkt fänd' im schwanken Leben.2 Ach der Lebenspfad ist holpernd, -- Liegen dort so manche Steine, Dran wir [Alte]3, schmählich stolpernd, Oftmals uns verrengt die Beine. Ach, das Leben birgt viel Hader Und schlägt viel unnütze Wunden, Mancher tapf're schwarze Kater Hat umsonst den Tod gefunden.2 Doch wozu der alte Kummer? Und ich hör' die Jungen lachen, Und sie treiben's noch viel dummer, Schaden erst wird klug sie machen. Fruchtlos stets ist die Geschichte; Mögen seh'n sie, wie sie's treiben! -- Hiddigeigeis Lehrgedichte Werden ungesungen bleiben.1
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Josef Viktor von Scheffel, Der Trompeter von Säkkingen. Ein Sang vom Oberrhein, zweihundertfünfundvierzigste Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1899, pages 230-231.
1 Lang: "die Zukunft mancher"2 Lang adds: "Miau! Miau! Miau!"
3 Lang: "Alten"
Authorship:
- by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886), no title, appears in Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, in Vierzehntes Stück. Das Büchlein der Lieder, in 2. Lieder des Katers Hiddigeigei, no. 12 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied des Katers "Hiddigeigei"", op. 45 (Fünf Lieder aus dem Trompeter von Säckingen) no. 5 (1870), published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Weimar: T.F.A. Kühn [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) (Harald Krebs) , "Song of the Tomcat "Hiddigeigei"", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 119
At the end of his days Stands the cat Hiddigeigei. And he thinks, with faint lamenting, How his existence shall soon be over. He would gladly, out of his treasure Of rich wisdom, supply teachings That would lend the future of many a cat An anchor in this unstable life.1 Oh, the path of life is rough. -- Many stones lie there, On which we old ones, wretchedly tripping, Have often sprained our legs. Oh, life contains much strife And often wounds [us] unnecessarily. Many a courageous black cat Has needlessly found his death.1 But of what use is the age-old sorrow? And I hear the young ones laughing. And they act even more stupidly. Only misfortune will make them wise. History is always fruitless. Let them manage as best they can! -- Hiddigeigei's instructive songs Shall remain unsung.1
1 Lang adds: "Miau! Miau! Miau!"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886), no title, appears in Der Trompeter von Säkkingen, in Vierzehntes Stück. Das Büchlein der Lieder, in 2. Lieder des Katers Hiddigeigei, no. 12
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 137