Show Synopsis:
This song cycle is based on German folk songs and folk tales.
Song Context:
In this vignette, a child dies before his family's grain can be harvested and baked into bread.
Fun Facts:
1. The text of this song was taken from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a collection of folk poems and songs.
2. Mahler published this song as fifth in a cycle of 12 in 1899 under the name "Humoresken."
"GERMAN
?Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich,
Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich.""
""Warte nur, mein liebes Kind,
Morgen wollen wir säen geschwind.""
Und als das Korn gesäet war,
Rief das Kind noch immerdar:
""Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich,
Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich.""
""Warte nur, mein liebes Kind,
Morgen wollen wir ernten geschwind.""
Und als das Korn geerntet war,
Rief das Kind noch immerdar:
""Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich,
Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich.""
""Warte nur, mein liebes Kind,
Morgen wollen wir dreschen geschwind.""
Und als das Korn gedroschen war,
Rief das Kind noch immerdar:
""Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich,
Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich.""
""Warte nur, mein liebes Kind,
Morgen wollen wir mahlen geschwind.""
Und als das Korn gemahlen war,
Rief das Kind noch immerdar:
""Mutter, ach Mutter! es hungert mich,
Gib mir Brot, sonst sterbe ich.?
""Warte nur, mein liebes Kind,
Morgen wollen wir backen geschwind.""
Und als das Brot gebacken war,
Lag das Kind auf der Totenbahr.
ENGLISH
""Mother, oh Mother! I'm hungry;
Give me bread, or I shall die!""
""Wait a little, my darling child;
Tomorrow we shall sow quickly.""
And when the corn had been sown,
The child wailed again:
""Mother, oh Mother! I'm hungry;
Give me bread, or I shall die!""
""Wait a little, my darling child;
Tomorrow we shall harvest quickly.""
And when the corn had been harvested,
The child wailed again:
""Mother, oh Mother! I'm hungry;
Give me bread, or I shall die!""
""Wait a little, my darling child;
Tomorrow we shall thresh quickly.""
And when the corn had been threshed,
The child wailed again:
""Mother, oh Mother! I'm hungry;
Give me bread, or I shall die!""
""Wait a little, my darling child;
Tomorrow we shall grind quickly.""
And when the corn had been ground,
The child wailed again:
""Mother, oh Mother! I'm hungry;
Give me bread, or I shall die!""
""Wait a little, my darling child;
Tomorrow we shall bake quickly.""
And when the bread had been baked,
The child was lying on the funeral bier."