Paroles et traduction Ougenweide - Ouwe Wie Jämmerliche

Ouwe Wie Jämmerliche

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

Old Women, Miserable

Oh, how miserably young people act
They have so much pride in their hearts
They have no worries: oh, how they behave
If I turn to the world, no one is happy

Dancing, laughing, singing all disappear with worry
No Christian man has ever seen such a miserable crowd
Now see how women are given their gifts
The proud knights wear their finery at the door

Harsh letters have come to us from Rome
We are allowed sorrow and joy is taken from us
That hurts me deeply (we used to live very well)
That I now must choose weeping over my laughter

The birds in the wild are troubled by our lament
What wonder is it if I give up joy altogether
Oh, what do I, a foolish man, say through my anger
Whoever follows this joy has lost those who are there