Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...

Subject: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 02:38 PM

I would like the full words of this traditional German song, in German. And I'd also like a translation. I don't need a song-translation, but just what the text means in English. I know "ein bisschen Deutch", but not enough for this. ... I have checked and don't find it in the DT.

...Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 02:48 PM

The lyrics and translation are:

Du, Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen

Du, du liegst mir im Herzen,
Du, du, Liegst mir in Sinn.
Du, du, machst mir viel Schmertzen,
Weisst nicht wie gut ich dir bin.

Ja, ja, ja, ja,
weisst nicht wie gut ich dir bin.

So, so, wie ich dich liebe,
So, so, liebe auch mich.
Die, die, zaertlichen Triebe,
Fuehl' ich allein nur fuer dich.

Doch, doch, darf ich dir trauen,
Dir, dir, mit leichtem Sinn,
Du, du, kannst auch mich bauen,
Weisst ja, wie gut isch dir bin.

Ja, ja, ja, ja,
Weisst ja, wie gut ich dir bin.

Und, und, wenn in der Ferne,
Mir, mir, dein Bild erscheint,
Dann, dann wuenscht ich so gerne,
Dass uns die Liebe vereint.

Ja, ja, ja, ja,
Dass uns die Liebe vereint.

---- and translated to English ----

You, you, place me in your heart.

You, you, place me in your heart.
You, you, keep me in mind,
You, you, make me hurt so,
You don't know how good I am to you.

Yes, yes, yes, yes,
You don't know how good I am to you.

So, so, as I love you,
So, so, love me too,
Then the affectionate instincts
Will lead me only to you.

But, but, I may dream of you,
You, you, with light thoughts
You, you, can also rely on me,
You know how good I am to you.

Yes, yes, yes, yes
You know how good I am to you.

And, and, if in the distance,
To me, to me, your image appears,
Then, then, I will so gladly wish
That we were united in love.

Yes, yes, yes, yes
That we were united in love.

--

Wincing_Devil
God's 2 greatest creations: Cats and Music)

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 03:55 AM

Dave, you've got all you aked for from Wincing Devil. Now you'll get more from me. For all German lyrics first go to http://ingeb.org There are more german lyrics (and midis) there than at any other place. If you click Du, du liegst mir am Herzen you'll find (in addition to what you got above) singable English lyrics, a midi, a score (not easy to find), and (you didn't dare to ask, I know, but admit you longed for it:) a translation into Latin (singable, of course).
Now, wasn't that an overdose of a response? (grin)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 09:44 AM

WOW! Thanks for bringing this up, Dave. I had forgotten this song! We used to sing it in German Class in school and I loved it. As soon as I saw the title of your thread, the tune started in my head! Beautiful song. WIll you sing it on Sundat in the song circle?

Wolfgang, those look like great links! Thanks! And, WD, thanks to you, too!

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 02:42 PM

Danke schoen.

Vieleicht.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Marymac90
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 03:26 PM

Should I infer from Wincing Devil's remarks that this is a love song to a cat? That would knd of explain the focus on "you don't know how good I am to you" and "the pain you cause me". I awoke one morn with little claw marks all over one thigh!!!

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: jofield
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 11:23 PM

Uh, my recollection of German -- in which I was once fluent, a long time ago -- is that the first verse means "you, you (who) are in my heart, and on my mind". Were it imperative, wouldn't it me "liege" (or "lieg'") to make it scan? Also, "trauen" means give in marriage or trust, unless an "m" was omitted.

Picking nits with the best of them, I remain,

James.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 03:35 AM

Nope, James - just simple present tense, active voice. Second person singular, informal address. I suppose you could literally translate it as "you are lying on my heart, you and lying on my mind" (and I am getting a squashed heart and mind????).
Verstehst du jetzt?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: jofield
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 10:03 AM

Also, Jozeph, wir sind uns ganz einig! You have made my point. The translation calls it imperative: "place me in your heart", which, as you seem to agree, is incorrect. And then there is the matter of trauen vs. traumen...

Wiederschauen, James.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 04:16 AM

- 'trauen' it is; James (jofield) is right, it has two meanings, but the 'mir' gives it away (otherwise it should have been 'mich'): 'trust' it is, that is 'may I trust (in) you'
- as for the first two lines, follow Joe for the verbatim translation and James for what it means: 'you are in my heart and in my mind'
- three typos in the German: verse 1, line 3: Schmerzen (doesn't matter for the understanding); but the next typo changes the meaning: Verse 3, line 3 'Du, du kannst auf mich bauen; in line 4 of this verse: 'ich'
- the one typo altered completely the meaning of verse 3: he asks himself whether he may trust her, because she is so fickle minded (known to change her moods often), but then assures her that she can trust in him (and not 'too' or 'also'!). Third verse, near to the meaning, far from verbatim:

However, may I trust you,
you are so fickle-hearted,
you can trust in me,
you know how found I am of you.

For the other verses, the tranlation above gives the correct meaning.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: jofield
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 09:54 AM

Bravo Wolfgang. Entlich die richtige übersetzung. Vielen dank. Mir ist es immer schwerer Deutsch zu lesen oder sprechen weil während die letzte zwei jahren fing ich Französisch zu lernen an. Die eine hat die andere aus meinem kopf gedrückt.

Wiederschauen,
James.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 10:13 AM

Entschuligen Sie Mich, Meinen Damen und Herren, es war sieben und zwanzig jahre vorher das Ich habe Deutsch studiert, im Gymnasium.

<GIVING UP ON RECALLING HIGH SCHOOL GERMAN>
When does one move from the "Sie" Formal mode of address to the "du" mode? I have often wondered, in French and German, where there are formal and informal pronouns, when one moves from one to the other.

Wincing_Devil
I hope that Schrodinger guy put litter in here.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 11:19 AM

In Germany I would say when people become actual friends, socially, as opposed to acquaintances. Co-workers would go informal pretty soon after making first acquaintance. Business collegues, I don't know. (Four years in the military living "on the economy" after taking German at the Defense Lanquage Institute.)

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: jofield
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 12:18 PM

Well, I remember that traditionally, if a man and woman began to "dutzen" one another (use the du-form), it meant they had kissed. I think that's all changed now. I am now more familiar with French habits, where students are all "tu" to one another, and in certain creative circles -- music, art, film, etc. -- tu is used almost exclusively. My rule of thumb is when in doubt, use the formal address -- almost no one will be offended.

Salut, James

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 09:52 AM

'Du' or 'Sie' is a difficult decision which can bother Germans as well. There are no written rules and the usage changes from decade to decade and from one part of Germany to the next. When I was young we used 'Sie' even to fellow students which is now never ever heard. Here are some general 'rules' nevertheless:
(1) (adapted from James) When in doubt use the formal address or ask.
(2) Up to the age of about 25 use 'Du' unless you are much older (that is 30-35).
(3) The more formal the exchange the more likely use 'Sie'. Example: You are 28 and meet a young person of about 25 at a disco. 'Sie' would be very wrong. Imagine you had met the same person the morning as a bank teller a 'Du' would have been wrong.
(4) The more liberal (left) the context the more likely you say 'Du'. Example: You are not at a bank but in a shop with health food. Now you'd say 'Du' to a cashier there if s/he looks not much above 30 (unless of course you are much older).
(5) You are much more likely to say 'Du' to persons if they are addressed 'Du' by someone you already say 'Du' to. Example: You are at a party of a friend; then you can safely say 'Du' to any person s/he says 'Du' to unless the age differenc is too big.
(6) The golden rule of 'common fate': The more you have in common the earlier you say 'Du'. At my age (above 50) nobody says 'Du' to me on the street. However, meeting someone during vacations (let's say at the west coast of Ireland) will lead to a quick 'Du'. Meeting other parents of young children (in a children group, e.g.) is a 'Du' situation (common fate!). Being in the same room in hospital induces a 'Du' too. And so on...

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 10:26 AM

I was watching TLC (The Learning Channel) the other night, they did this show called "Hitler's Henchmen". It mentioned that Albert Speer was the only person that Hitler addressed with "Du".

Wincing_Devil
I hope that Schrodinger guy put litter in here.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: jofield
Date: 23 Feb 00 - 04:33 PM

Sehr interessant, Wolfgang.

My sense is that the French cling a little more strongly to the old ways: I don't think the "common fate" rule works there. You would have to be trapped in the elevator a long time to call someone you hadn't met before "tu". Nor would I go to "tu" at a party, even if I use that form with the host. But as I said, students (and musicians, artists, etc.) are all "tu" to one another. I have even been in a class at the Alliance Française in Paris where the instructor was called "tu" by the students -- perhaps one of those strange French gestures towards republicanism -- or the students didn't know any better.

Members of the French political and journalism set are always tickled to hear bigwigs like Chirac and Jospin "tutoyer" one another. Like almost every member of the upper political echelons, they are "Énarques" -- graduates of the elite ÉNA school of government, and by tradition they are always "tu" to one another.

Once, in a store in Switzerland, "du hast recht" slipped out from *my* student days (und dass war vor 40 jahre). I immediately corrected myself, but the young salesman didn't mind in the least.

Wiedersehen,
James

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir im Herzen...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 02:40 AM

Wolfgang, I notice that you and the lyrics you linked to say Du, du liegst mir am Herzen. I've always seen it "im Herzen." Which is correct, or are both?
-Joe Offer, also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute-

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Dan Evergreen
Date: 24 Feb 00 - 03:08 PM

I always said it like you, Joe. You lie for(or to) me in the heart.

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: Wolfgang
Date: 28 Feb 00 - 03:46 AM

Joe,
my only written source (it is quite reliable) has 'in' as you know it. And it has a lower limit to the song's age, for it says 'trad. in 1820'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Du, du liegst mir in Herzen...
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 Jun 17 - 04:38 PM

I was curious to see the earliest documentation I could find of this lyric online.
Permit me to show you the oldest results of my search.

Du, du liegst mir im Herzen,
Du, du liegst mir im Sinn,
Du, du machst mir viel Schmerzen,
Weißt nicht, wie gut ich dir bin,
Nein, nein,
Weißt nicht, wie gut ich dir bin.

So, so wie ich dich liebe,
So, so liebe auch mich,
Die, die zärtlichsten Triebe
Fühle ich einzig für dich,
Ja, ja,
Fühle ich einzig für dich.

Doch, doch darf ich dir trauen,
Dir, dir mit leichtem Sinn?
Du, du darfst auf mich bauen,
Weißt ja, wie gut ich dir bin!
Ja, ja,
Weißt ja, wie gut ich dir bin.

Und, und wenn in der Ferne
Dir, dir mein Bild erscheint,
Dann, dann wünscht' ich auch gerne,
Daß uns die Liebe vereint.
Ja, ja!
Daß uns die Liebe vereint.

Volkslied; Bekannte Melodie.

Taschenbuch für alle Freunde der Geselligkeit, der Freude und des Gesangs. Enthaltend eine Auswahl der bekanntesten und beliebesten Lieder. Memmingen: in der Christoph Müller'schen Buch- und Kunsthandlung, 1795. Pages 43 - 44.

Digital file from Bavarian State Library, Munich.