Hey, you guys are good. I have to admit most of the German songs I learned were drinking songs, and I don't believe we were supposed to this one. So, can anybody find singable English lyrics?
-Joe Offer-

Heidenröslein
Tune: Franz Schubert, 1815
Another tune: Heinrich Werner, 1829
Lyrics: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1771

1. Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein steh'n,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und war so schön
Lief er schnell es nah zu seh'n
Sah's mit vielen Freuden
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

2. Knabe sprach: "Ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden."
Röslein sprach: "Ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden."
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

3. Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihm doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Source: http://ingeb.org/Lieder/saheinkn.html (with MIDI)

Joe's translation:
The Little Rose on the Heath

A boy saw a little rose standing,
A rose upon the heath.
It/he was so young and was so pretty,
He ran to see it up close.
He saw it with great joy (many joys)
Little rose, little rose, little rose red,
Little rose on the heath

The boy said, "I'll break you,
Little rose on the heath."
The rose said, "I'll stick you,
So that you will always think on me
And I do not want to cause harm." (?)
Little rose, little rose, little rose red,
Little rose on the heath

And the wild boy broke
The little rose on the heath;
The rose protected itself and stuck
It helped him to have no sorrow
but it still had to injure him.
Little rose, little rose, little rose red,
Little rose on the heath.


Maybe I'd do a better job on that last verse if I went up and checked a dictionary, but you get the idea.