(a translation of Wilhelm Müller's Der Leiermann to be sung to Schubert's final Winterreise Lied)
Over in the village
Stands an organ-man,
And with numb old fingers
Plays the best he can.
Barefoot on the cold ice,
He goes here and there,
And his little change-plate:
It is always bare.
No one cares to hear him;
Everyone looks on,
And the dogs are growling
Round the agéd man.
And he lets it all go,
Go on as it will,
Playing, and his organ:
It is never still.
Strange and gloomy old man,
Shall I come along?
Will you play your organ
To my tattered songs?
George Chadderdon © 2005
Drüben hinterm Dorfe
Steht ein Leiermann
Und mit starren Fingern
Dreht er was er kann.
Barfuß auf dem Eise
Wankt er hin und her
Und sein kleiner Teller
Bleibt ihm immer leer.
Keiner mag ihn hören,
Keiner sieht ihn an,
Und die Hunde knurren
Um den alten Mann.
Und er läßt es gehen,
Alles wie es will,
Dreht, und seine Leier
Steht ihm nimmer still.
Wunderlicher Alter !
Soll ich mit dir geh'n ?
Willst zu meinen Liedern
Deine Leier dreh'n ?
Line 3: starren, I believe, means "numb". I translated this as "numb old" in order to fit the rhythm.
Line 5: auf dem Eise: I add the adjective "cold" to ice to fit the rhythm.
Line 10: Keiner sieht ihn an translates to something like "No one looks at him." which I translate as "Everyone looks on".
Line 17: wunderlicher here probably means "strange". I translate as "strange and gloomy" to fit the meter and accent the mood.
Lines 19-20: Will zu meinem Liedern deine Leier dreh'n? is "Will you play your organ (actually, a hurdy-gurdy) to my songs?" I add the adjective "tattered" to songs.