My darling has gone wandering

Otto Dresel

My darling has gone wandering,

but I do not know why I am so sad;

perhaps he is dead and lies resting well,

that's why I spend my time being so sad.

When I wanted to go to the church (get married) with my darling,

many lying, lying tongues were around the door;

one said this, the other said that,

which brings tears to my eyes pretty often.

Thistles and thorns, they prick so badly,

but lying tongues prick even much worse.

No fire on earth burns as hot

as secret love that no one knows about.

Ah, dearest darling, I just ask you for one thing:

you should be at my burial,

at my burial in the cool grave,

because I loved you so truly.

O God, what have my father and mother done?

They forced me to marry an honest man,

an honest man whom I do not love,

which makes my heart so troubled.