Tuesday, December 2, 2008

As Requested by Sherri, The Lyrics to My Favorite German Carol

Kling, Glöckchen
Ring, Little Bell

Text: Carl Enslin (1819-1875)
Melodie: Benedikt Widmann (1820-1910)

DEUTSCH

Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!
Laßt mich ein, ihr Kinder!
Ist so kalt der Winter!
Öffnet mir die Türen!
Laßt mich nicht erfrieren!
Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!

Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!
Mädchen, hört, und Bübchen,
Macht mir auf das Stübchen!
Bring euch viele Gaben,
Sollt euch dran erlaben!
Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!

Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!
Hell erglühn die Kerzen,
Öffnet mir die Herzen,
Will drin wohnen fröhlich,
Frommes Kind, wie selig!
Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling!
Kling, Glöckchen, kling!

ENGLISH

Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!
Let me in, you kids!
So cold is the winter!
Open the doors for me!
Don't let me freeze!
Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!

Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!
Girls, listen, and boys,
Open up the room for me!
I bring you many gifts,
You should enjoy them!
Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!

Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!
Brightly glow the candles,
Open your hearts to me,
I want to live there happily,
Devout child, how blessed!
Ring, little bell, ringalingaling!
Ring, little bell, ring!

I know, from our cultural standpoint, the lyrics sound a little creepy at first, but we are supposed to be imagining the
Christchild asking for entrance into our hearts (okay, so bibically He knocks instead of ringing the bell, it is still a sweet picture) and not imagining stranger danger asking a latchkey kid to open the door. It is all in the perspective.
And, I don't mean to be petty, but it is pronounced "Danke Sheyrn".

6 comments:

Sherri Murphy said...

Thanks. I appreciate your translating for me.

I think German is a beautiful language to listen to even while I'm totally clueless- I just thought it would be nice know what the words actually meant.

And yeah, thanks for explaining it was the Christ child speaking and NOT stranger danger 'cause I started to say, I wouldn't let small children listen to that song! But as it turns out, also a beautiful English message!

katdish said...

Wayne Newton sounds like a woman singing that song. Was he like 12 when he made that album? I'm really not trying to be ugly -- he totally sounds like a woman.

Annie K said...

Uh...Helen, we've seen pictures of everyone but you. I need a face to go with the 'high voice unless you have a cold'. Are you gonna post one or what?

wv - flaings - What we all had in the early 80's - big bangs with flair.... flaings (can you make it a picture of you with flaings?)

Helen said...

Sherri, I always love listening to hymns and christmas songs in other languages because I think I can hear the emotion and heart rather than get caught up in the words. Does that even make sense?

Katdish, he probably was like twelve when he recorded this. He was once considered a child prodigy you know, (snort).

Annie K, I cannot post pictures on my blog because I am very ugly, and worried about cracking the screen on the mac. I am also really big and might not fit on the screen. How embarassing would that be?!

Helen said...

Sherri, I always love listening to hymns and christmas songs in other languages because I think I can hear the emotion and heart rather than get caught up in the words. Does that even make sense?

Katdish, he probably was like twelve when he recorded this. He was once considered a child prodigy you know, (snort).

Annie K, I cannot post pictures on my blog because I am very ugly, and worried about cracking the screen on the mac. I am also really big and might not fit on the screen. How embarassing would that be?!

Life is Severe said...

Helen that is a horrible thing to say about yourself! Do you need counseling: ;)


Thank you for posting this. I am German as well on my mother's side. She speaks German and Danish. I also took a class in college years ago. I was told my accent was pretty good...thanks to Mom. I listened to the song...I cringed when I heard "Danke Shaaane." Your pronunciation is obviously correct.

God Bless you this season Helen!