Klaas [English translation]

Klaas got admonished by his mother (1)

As he wanted to get married

Klaas, all this shall overcome you:

Now hear my admonition:

Marriage is at the best

Full of cares and dangers

You'll be in big trouble

All for a shortlived pleasure

(REF:)

Klaas, don't marry, for you life's sake !

Lest you shall come to misery

Klaas, don't you get married

Or you shall come to grief

Mother, I am wise enough

And until my ripe age

All the girls of the city

They all ran after me

Klaas would you please calm down

Know that marriage is filled with pain

Filled with arguments and burdens

Thus it shall turn out to be

(REF)

All the girls of the city

They are full of flaws

One is appealing, the other not

That became apparent when she was little

Marriage means pain and torment

After you cheated on your girl

When in no time you'll become

A cook and a father (1a)

(REF)

Woso marries a woman with children

It is a shame forever (1b)

For both the wife and the widower

Subsequently shall see this comely couple

Should he beat the children

It's as if he'd beat the wife

And the house is full of rumours

Of curses and of strife

(REF)

Should you marry a youthful beauty

You have to keep her to yourself (2)

But do you marry an overage woman

You'll hear nothing but strife

If you marry a crippled woman

It is "Hay hay hay, my leg.."

If you marry a cross-eyed squint

She'll see you twice instead of once

And Klaas was stricken with fear

When he heard his mother's words

And wanted neither wife nor bride

So Klaas now plays on his flute (3)

(REF)

And Klaas never married all his life

For he feared being miserable

Klaas never married all his life

For he feared the grief