Bidding for the release of a beloved prisoner is an old and frequent theme in German folk poetry. The High German version given by Grishka was heard and written down by J. W. Goethe 1771 during his stay in Alsatia. Jungfrau is normally a virgin, but could also mean a young woman. But looking through the Nether German version there are some other thoughts: Having an orphan (mine arme Weysen can also be acc. sing. fem.) would make sense with her wish to regain her honour by marrying the emprisoned lover; but since she has to stay in mourning a year after her lover's death for marrying seems to hint at the fact that she was married. Freiligrath also gives the historic background: the couple was married. 1)Zupfgeigenhansl vs. 2) Zupfgeigenhansel: 1) is the title of the famous songbook of the preWWI youth movement, 2) the name of a duo (Thomas Friz & Ernst Schmeckenbecher). Please note this important difference I had the occasion to point at in an earlier thread. The meaning of both forms is Johnny Guitar. Sing and enjoy Wilfried
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