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Anonymous translation
JUST as we spin, of old ’t is said | |
| Queen Bertha used to twine the thread,— | |
| I spin. | |
| And with our wheels and merry song | |
| Winter’s dark hours flow blithely on. | 5 |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| When my neighbor comes at night | |
| With her niece around the light,— | |
| I spin. | |
| Round the blazing fire we gather, | 10 |
| And we sing and spin together. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| While I twist the whistling thread | |
| The daily task is quickly said,— | |
| I spin. | 15 |
| And then my little happy boy | |
| Frisks round my wheel in careless joy. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| We may gossip as we spin, | |
| But to backbite is a sin,— | 20 |
| I spin. | |
| They who slander soon shall find | |
| Coarse and rough the thread they wind. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| Twist it neither slack nor tight, | 25 |
| Keep between and ’t will be right,— | |
| I spin. | |
| Girls who think of lovers go | |
| Always over fast or slow. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | 30 |
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| Oil your wheel, that turning round | |
| It may make no creaking sound,— | |
| I spin. | |
| Oil of patience is the oil! | |
| Sweetener that of every toil! | 35 |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| Maid whose wheel turns gratingly | |
| Day and night shall lonely be,— | |
| I spin. | |
| Of her temper ’t is a proof | 40 |
| Frightened love will keep aloof. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| Spin, spin from morn till night, | |
| Maidens, do your task aright,— | |
| I spin. | 45 |
| And in time some lover true | |
| Shall twine a thread of love for you! | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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| Spin, girls, then spin ever, | |
| Spin long, spin well together,— | 50 |
| I spin. | |
| Gently go, and steadily too, | |
| You for us and we for you. | |
| We spin, my girl and I. | |
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