Song Lyrics in German and English
Wolfgang Ambros:
“Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart”
English Lyrics
NOTE: The song lyrics below are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. - Also see the original German version of these lyrics.
SONG BACKGROUND
This song was first released on the 1973 CD album Wolfgang Ambros - Eigenheiten. It is a humorous ditty, partially accurate historically, that compares Austria's "Wunderknabe" (boy genius) with Ambros himself, who would rather be "halb so berühmt und doppelt so alt" (half as famous and twice as old) as Mozart was.
You Are Here:
Ambros Songs > W. Amadeus Mozart - German > English Translation
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (war ein Wunderknabe)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Was a Boy Genius)
Music/Lyrics: H.G. Hausner, W. Ambros, V. Vane
English Prose Translation: H. Flippo
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a boy genius.
I am not one,
because I don't have so much talent.
Since such people are rare,
I am a half boy genius.
But my problem is conceivably tiresome,
(since) others already envy me now.
I ask you if that really has to be,
much-praised Wolfgang Amadeus.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a boy genius.
He would have high protection
that I don't have so far.
He sat at the lap of the empress
Maria Theresia in Vienna:
A prominent lady's lap
has made many an artist great.
I ask you if that really has to be,
much-loved Wolfgang Amadeus.
For the spread of classical music
you needed boys' choir accompaniment and choral singing
for good form (lit. "for good sound").
But what boy sings beautifully today?
Choir boys and boy geniuses
are hard to find nowadays.
Wolfgang Amadeus lived to be thirty-three.*
Between the rich and the regents
no easy task at all -
that I know.
Despite my numerous complaints
I'd really like to grow older.
The best thing for me would simply be (to become)
half as famous and twice as old.
Will I live so long,
much-tested Amadeus Wolfgang?
*Mozart actually died in Vienna on December 5, 1791 at the age of 35.
- From the CD albums "Wolfgang Ambros - Eigenheiten" (1973) and "Ambros - 1973-1983"
MORE > Original German version of this song
Ambros Songs > W. Amadeus Mozart - German > English Translation
BACK > More Austrian Artists/Songs
MORE > German Popular Music
Music/Songs
German songs, lyrics, and groups.
German Newsletters
Subscribe to a free newsletter!
OUR GERMAN FORUMS