Senta’s Ballad

 

“Senta’s Ballad” from Der Fliegende Holländer by Richard Wagner – Ashley Becker

Yohohoe! Yohohohoe! Yohohoe! Yohoe!
Have you seen the ship upon the ocean
with blood‑red sails and black masts?
On her bridge a pallid man,
the ship's master, watches incessantly.
Whee! How the wind howls! Yohohe!
Whee! How it whistles in the rigging! Yohohe!
Whee! Like on arrow he flies on,
without aim, without end, without rest!
Yet there could be redemption one day for that pale man
if he found a wife on earth who'd be true to him till death!
Ah when, pale seaman, will you find her?
Pray Heaven, that soon
a wife will keep faith with him!
In raging wind and violent storm
he once sought to round a cape;
he cursed, and in a fit of madness swore,
"In all eternity I'll not give up!"
Whee! And Satan heard! Yohohe!
Whee! And took him at his word! Yohohe!
Whee! And now, accursed, he roams
the seas without end, without rest!
Yet, so that poor man still could find redemption on earth,
God's angel showed him the path to salvation!
Ah, if you could find it, pallid seaman!
Pray Heaven, that soon
a wife will keep faith with him!
At anchor every seventh year,
he goes ashore to seek a wife.
Every seventh year he's wooed,
but never found a faithful wife.
Whee! "Unfurl sail!” Yohohe!
Whee! "Up anchor!" Yohohe!
Whee! "Faithless love, faithless troth!
Off to sea, without end, without rest!"
Let me be the one whose loyalty shall save you!
May God's angel reveal me to you!
Through me shall you attain redemption!

*Translation adapted from http://www.impresario.ch/libretto/libwagfli_e.htm

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