Lyrics and translation Ougenweide - Ouwe wie jaemerliche - 1979

Ouwe wie jaemerliche - 1979

Owê wie jaemerlîche junge liute tuont
Den ê vil hovelîchen ir gemüete stuont
Die kunnen niuwan sorgen: owê wie tuont sie sô
Swar ich zer werlte kêre, dâ ist nieman vrô

Tanzen, lachen, singen zergât mit sorgen gar
Nie kristenman gesach sô jaemerliche schar
Nû merkent wie den vrouwen ir gebende stât
Die stolzen ritter tragent an dörpellîche wât

Uns sint unsenfte brieve her von Rôme komen
Uns ist erloubet trûren und vreude gar benomen
Daz müet mich inneclîchen (wir lebeten ie vil wol)
Daz ich nû für mîn lachen weinen kiesen sol

Die vogele in der wilde betrüebet unser klage
Waz wunders ist ob ich dâ von an vreuden gar verzage
Owê waz spriche ich tumber man durch mînen böesen zorn
Swer dirre wünne volget, hât jene dort verlorn

O We Jaemerliche - 1979

Alas how wretched these young people act now
Their previously cheerful disposition has vanished
They know only lament: alas how they behave so
No matter where in the world I go, there is no one happy

Dancing, laughter, singing turn to worry
Never has a Christian seen such a miserable group
Just look how the ladies dress
The proud knights wear rustic clothing

Grim letters have arrived from Rome
We are forbidden from joy and our sorrow is complete
That grieves me deeply (we used to live so well)
That I must now choose to weep instead of laughing

The birds in the wilderness lament with us
What wonder if I lose all joy from it
Alas what do I foolish man say in my wicked anger
Those who follow these delights have lost the others