Good advice

Ah, mother, dear mother,

Ah, give me some advice!

There rides after me early every morning

a swift rider.

"Ah, daughter, dear daughter!

The advice that I give you is this:

Let the rider go

and remain another year with me!"

Ah, mother, dear mother,

This advice is no good;

The rider, he is dearer to me

than all your possessions and goods.

"If that rider is dearer to you

than all my possessions and goods,

then tie your clothes together

and run after the man!"

Ah, mother, dear mother,

I do not have many clothes;

give me just a hundred thalers

so I can buy what I want.

"Ah, daughter, dear daughter!

I do not have many thalers;

your father has squandered everything

on dice and cardplaying.

If my father has squandered everything

on dice and cardplaying,

then I lament to God

that I am his daughter.

If I had been born a boy

I would go across the field

and beat the drum

for the Emperor and of course his gold.