Was is die Liab?

Vintage Viennese cabaret song with playful female vocals and slow swing tempo (around 92 BPM), Instrumentation: accordion, clarinet, upright bass, and brushed snare, The accordion gives a warm caféhouse tone, Clarinet adds short melodic replies and trills; bass keeps a gentle 2/4 pulse, Mood: charming, naive, and ironic — reflective Couplet about love, full of “Wiener Schmäh”, Include soft pauses after punchlines and light rubato in phrasing

[Verse 1]
„Was is die Liab? i selbst woaß nöt,
Bin no a jung's Madel und verzagt,
Drum hab' i die Dirndl'n, die Liebhaber hab'n,
Und Buama, die Madln hab'n, g'fragt.“

Die Einen sag'n: es sei die Liab
So g'wiß ein füatzlicher Rausch;
Die Andern moanen: es sei a Handl,
So zwischen zwoa Herzen a Tausch.

[Instrumental break – accordion solo, playful, light 2/4, echoing last melodic phrase]

[Verse 2]
Das Herz, sag'ns wieder, is a Zunder
Und wann a Fünkerl d'rauf fallt,
Geht d'Liab los wie a Büchs'n,
Aber ohne daß' s knallt.

[Bridge – clarinet solo, expressive, slightly slower phrasing, like reflective thought]

[Verse 3]
Und And'Re woll'n behaupten:
Ein' Art Räuberg'schäft sei d'Liab,
A kloaner Spitzbua stiehlt d'Herzerl
Und Amor heißt dieser Diab,

D'Liab sagn's a, kummt von die Rosen,
's is a Gruch wia a süaßer Dampf,
Riacht man z'stark, kann ma umfall'n,
Denn ma kriagt im Herz'n ein' Krampf.

[Instrumental break – accordion and clarinet duet, softly humorous echoing motive]

[Verse 4]
Oft kummt's aus'n Augen als Blitzer,
und fahrt Ein'm durch Leib und Seel',
Und zwoa, die's grad trifft, verschmelzen
In Ein's zusamm auf der Stell.

Auch soll sie kommen als ein Imp,
Die im Maul zwar Höni tragt,
Dafür aber sticht und thuat's a nöt weh,
Is ma do von a Gschwulst monatlang plagt.

[Outro – spoken, with comic pause and wink to audience]
I stell' mir Alles das schreckli vor,
Wann's mi nur niemals trifft,
Denn wann i wüßt', daß's morgen g'schiacht,
I nehmet heunt no gift!

---
💔 Love

(Viennese Couplet – translated & transcribed)

What is this thing they call “love”?
I wouldn’t really know,
I’m still a young and timid girl,
So I asked the ones who do:

The girls who’ve got their lovers,
The boys who’ve got their flirts,
They told me love’s a sudden thing,
That hits you where it hurts.

Some say that love’s like liquor –
A quick, intoxicating rush.
Some others think it’s business,
A trade between two hearts.

The heart, they say, is tinder,
And when a spark drops in,
Love flares up like a powder keg –
Just softly – without the din.

And others claim it’s robbery,
A sweet and naughty theft,
A little rascal steals your heart,
And Amor is the culprit left.

Some say love comes from roses,
A scent, like sweet perfume;
Smell too much, you’ll faint away,
With cramps inside your room.

It flashes from the eyes, they say,
And shoots right through your soul;
Two who meet its lightning strike,
Melt into one whole.

They also say it’s like a bee
That carries honey in its mouth –
But once it stings, you’ll swell for weeks,
And curse that lovely louse!

I find all this quite dreadful,
And hope it passes me by;
For if I knew love’d strike tomorrow –
I’d take my poison tonight!

2704/7500

[Verse 1] „Was is die Liab? i selbst woaß nöt, Bin no a jung's Madel und verzagt, Drum hab' i die Dirndl'n, die Liebhaber hab'n, Und Buama, die Madln hab'n, g'fragt.“ Die Einen sag'n: es sei die Liab So g'wiß ein füatzlicher Rausch; Die Andern moanen: es sei a Handl, So zwischen zwoa Herzen a Tausch. [Instrumental break – accordion solo, playful, light 2/4, echoing last melodic phrase] [Verse 2] Das Herz, sag'ns wieder, is a Zunder Und wann a Fünkerl d'rauf fallt, Geht d'Liab los wie a Büchs'n, Aber ohne daß' s knallt. [Bridge – clarinet solo, expressive, slightly slower phrasing, like reflective thought] [Verse 3] Und And'Re woll'n behaupten: Ein' Art Räuberg'schäft sei d'Liab, A kloaner Spitzbua stiehlt d'Herzerl Und Amor heißt dieser Diab, D'Liab sagn's a, kummt von die Rosen, 's is a Gruch wia a süaßer Dampf, Riacht man z'stark, kann ma umfall'n, Denn ma kriagt im Herz'n ein' Krampf. [Instrumental break – accordion and clarinet duet, softly humorous echoing motive] [Verse 4] Oft kummt's aus'n Augen als Blitzer, und fahrt Ein'm durch Leib und Seel', Und zwoa, die's grad trifft, verschmelzen In Ein's zusamm auf der Stell. Auch soll sie kommen als ein Imp, Die im Maul zwar Höni tragt, Dafür aber sticht und thuat's a nöt weh, Is ma do von a Gschwulst monatlang plagt. [Outro – spoken, with comic pause and wink to audience] I stell' mir Alles das schreckli vor, Wann's mi nur niemals trifft, Denn wann i wüßt', daß's morgen g'schiacht, I nehmet heunt no gift! --- 💔 Love (Viennese Couplet – translated & transcribed) What is this thing they call “love”? I wouldn’t really know, I’m still a young and timid girl, So I asked the ones who do: The girls who’ve got their lovers, The boys who’ve got their flirts, They told me love’s a sudden thing, That hits you where it hurts. Some say that love’s like liquor – A quick, intoxicating rush. Some others think it’s business, A trade between two hearts. The heart, they say, is tinder, And when a spark drops in, Love flares up like a powder keg – Just softly – without the din. And others claim it’s robbery, A sweet and naughty theft, A little rascal steals your heart, And Amor is the culprit left. Some say love comes from roses, A scent, like sweet perfume; Smell too much, you’ll faint away, With cramps inside your room. It flashes from the eyes, they say, And shoots right through your soul; Two who meet its lightning strike, Melt into one whole. They also say it’s like a bee That carries honey in its mouth – But once it stings, you’ll swell for weeks, And curse that lovely louse! I find all this quite dreadful, And hope it passes me by; For if I knew love’d strike tomorrow – I’d take my poison tonight!

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