[Verse 1] Mit mînem vater ûf den markt, wir kouften salt und korn zehant; dâ klanc vil lût der kouf-liute art, mîn herze was noch frî, unbekant. [Pre-Chorus 1] Dô stât er dâ, vil wol gestalt, mîn vater gât mir einen schrit — der schœne vremde wart sô nâh. [Chorus] Sît er mich gesach, verlôs ich den tac, mîn ougen brannten, mîn herze slac; kein wort erspranc, kein name gewant — sît er mich gesach, wart mîn herze gebant. Sît er mich gesach Sît ich im gewâr. [Verse 2] Ich gienc mit vater durch den dranc, er redte vil, ich hôrte niht; mîn ouge suochte in allem schrank, mîn herze sprach: „vergiz in niht!“ [Pre-Chorus 2] Ich sprach: „ez was vil lîhte schîn“, ein troum, ein ougenblic, vil snel — doch sprach mîn herze: „ez ist mîn.“ [Chorus 2] Sît er mich gesach, wart mir der tac swær, als trüg ich lîht in mînem her; kein name weiz ich, doch sîn schîn — sît er mich gesach, wil ich bî im sîn. Sît er mich gesach Sît ich im gewâr. [Bridge] Dô sach ich in bî rande stân, der markt was lût, doch mir vil lîht; er neichet mir — ich muose gân, kein wort, doch wart mir alles lîht. [Chorus 3] Sît er mich gesach, bin ich niht ê, mîn herze gât vil sachte mê; ob ich in vinde, daz weiz ich niht — doch sît er mich gesach, wart alles lîht. Sît er mich gesach Sît ich im gewâr. Translation: [Verse 1] With my father at the market, we bought salt and grain at once; there rang out loud the calls of the merchants, my heart was still free, unknowing. [Pre-Chorus 1] Then he stood there, so fair, my father stepped one pace away from me — the beautiful stranger came so near. [Chorus] Since he looked upon me, I lost track of time; my eyes burned, my heart struck hard. No word sprang forth, no name was known — since he looked upon me, my heart was bound. Since he looked upon me, since I became aware of him. [Verse 2] I walked with my father through the masses, he spoke much, I heard nothing; my eye sought him in every crowd, my heart said: “Do not forget him!” [Pre-Chorus 2] I said: “It was but a fleeting light,” a dream, a moment, swiftly gone — yet my heart said: “It is mine.” [Chorus 2] Since he looked upon me, the day grew heavy, as though I bore light within my chest; I know no name, yet know his appearance — since he looked upon me, I wish to be with him. Since he looked upon me, since I became aware of him. [Bridge] Then I saw him standing by the edge, the market was loud, yet to me all was light; he bowed to me — I had to go, no word, yet everything grew bright. [Chorus 3] Since he looked upon me, I am not as before; my heart moves on, gently still. Whether I shall find him, I do not know — yet since he looked upon me, all became light. Since he looked upon me, since I became aware of him.
