There is a whole school of fairly morbid Viennese songs, concerned with death,
dying love, etc. It continues even today with some Austrian 'Kabarett' artists
(stand-up comedian is not the right translation). Ferdinand Raimund embodies
this line particularly well in his fusion of the sad words with his haunting
melodies. There are two pieces from him in this collection: Brüderlein fein and
Das Hobellied.

I remember Das Hobellied usually performed by an actor, more speaking than
singing. Its a joiner's melancholic view of the world, marriage, and death:
the plane will even out everything.

The piece is originally published without any repeats to accommodate the words.
I condensed it with repeats, and entered the words as a footnote.

I threw the following attempt at a translation in five minutes together; it
should just give an impression for the English speaking reader  -although I
think it's actually singable.

So people argue much about
the value of fortune,
and he who calls the other dumb,
and no-one knows a thing.
For one the poorest wretched man
is much too rich and proud:
And fate then cuts with planing knife
and planes them all alike.

The young want always forcefully
be lucky everywhere;
but if you then turn old a bit
you really don't much care.
An when my wife does fight with me
that does not upset me;
I simply knock my planer clean
and think: you rumble well!

And death, when he knocks on my door
and begs me: "Brother, come!",
at first I seem to be so deaf
and just don't turn around.
But when he says: "Dear Valentin,
don't fret now, let us go!",
I have to put my planer down
and bid the world adieu.


Enjoy!

Michael Bednarek
<mb@nrhs.health.nsw.gov.au>
http://www.geocities.com/mcmbednarek/