Paroles et traduction Ougenweide - Ouwe Wie Jaemerliche...

Ouwe Wie Jaemerliche...

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

Ouwe Wie Jaemerliche...

Oh, how lamentable young people act
Whose once courtly spirit has fallen flat
They know nothing but worry: oh, how they appear so
Wherever I turn in the world, there is no joy

Dancing, laughing, singing end completely in sorrow
Never has a Christian seen such a pitiful sight
Now see how it is with the women giving
The proud knights wear peasant-like clothing

Harsh letters have come to us from Rome
We are forbidden to rejoice and our joy is taken away
That pains me deeply (we used to live so well)
That now I must choose mourning over my laughter

The birds in the wilderness are saddened by our lament
Is it any wonder that I am completely discouraged from joy
Alas, what am I saying, foolish man, in my wicked anger
Whoever follows this pleasure has lost the other over there