Der Rosenwirt [English translation]

At the Rosenwirt1 near the trench gate,

one evening at half past five,

the innkeeper swings his hammer high

and smashes the pin [of a beer keg] away.

It splashes and gurgles2 out of the humid night

from the bunghole to the jug.

Hey, look how everyone's face is shining brightly,

every boozer:

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

well into the beaker!

What's the use of little kreutzers3

when I have died?

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

from the beaker through the chin!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

At the Rosenwirt in the little chamber,

there sits a young blood;

The spruce and slim waitress

was yesterday well-disposed towards him.

But today she run away.

Farewell, you false witch!

The fellow turns his face to the wall

and hums at half past five:

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

well into the beaker!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

from the beaker through the chin!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

At the Rosenwirt at the oaken table,

there sits a proud old man,

the cheeks are red, the eyes are fresh,

the hair is silver-white.

Many of his big plans

were thwarted despicably by destiny,

at half past five there's also someone chinking glasses4,

the old one grunted:

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

well into the beaker!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

from the beaker through the chin!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

At the Rosenwirt near the trench gate,

there is a fine plant growing,

which we raise in our glasses,

in the evening at half past five.

We raise it very sedulously,

we empty it to the bottom.

At midnight, there it still resounds,

so it sounds from every mouth:

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

well into the beaker!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

from the beaker through the chin!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

And if once the grim reaper tacks

the nail on my chest5,

I will rest from the hard way of life

in the cool silence of the tomb,

then swing gloriously the beaker for me,

the tired wanderer,

who teached you the saying of the beer,

and begin to sing:

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

well into the beaker!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

Little beer, stream, little beer, stream,

from the beaker through the chin!

What's the use of little kreutzers

when I have died?

[Spoken:] Nothing at all.

1. Literally Rose-innkeeper, probably the innkeeper of an inn called "Zur Rose" which is a common name for German inns like "Zur Krone", "Zum Schwan", "Zum Löwen".2. schlurrt und glurrt: Onomatopoeic imitation of the sound of running beer. Compare here: http://www.woerterbuchnetz.de/DWB?bookref=8,481,103. Kreuzer: Old South German currency like cents or pennies. The name derives from the cross (Kreuz) which was embossed on the top site of the coin.4. "anschlagen"? It literally says: At half past five someone is striking, too. Not sure if it's like "zuprosten" or it's about the tapping of the beer barrel (Fassanstich).5. coffin