Ich Gehör Nur Mir - Elisabeth

Milch (Milk)

Why don’t you open the store?
There is no milk today
Again waiting for nothing-the pitcher is empty
like so often, we were freezing and hoping
half the night for nothing.

Someone lies to us
Someone now deceives us
Someone’s making a fool of us.

We have to starve while others live in the palace

-ENOUGH!!!-
Would you like to know who is taking the milk from you?
-WE WOULD!!!
All the milk goes only to her!
-TO WHOM?
Your Empress…she needs for HER BATH!
-HER BATH!?
YEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!

For what? What a scandal
We would have never thought that of her
(Yes you would have never thought that of her)
Kids keep dying because there’s no milk for them
no milk for the kids
Our Empress stole from us
What use are our laments we have to endure
the ones who bring misfortunes upon us
We can’t spare them (repeated twice)
Let them feel the wrath of the people (twice)

Would you like to know what makes the Empress unhappy?
-We Would!
She mourns about her HAIR!
-HER HAIR!?
YEEEEEEEEEEEES!

Freedom for the people,
A new time begins

Schonheitspflege (Beauty Care)

Lower your eyes when you approach her.
And pour very gently hot milk into the bathtub
are her perfumes scented with perfume?
And did you prepare the shampoo?
that’s the way she wants it
Our Empress should always be in a good mood and refreshed.
That will keep her away from mingling in state affairs.

This type of water is wonderful,
it makes the eyes clear and shiny.
She also likes a daily manicure.

The emperor, the emperor, what, at this time???

Franz Josef:

Where is the Empress, I have to talk to her.

Servant:

but you can talk to her,
she’s behind the parasol,
she can hear you.

Franz Josef:

I can’t take not being loved by you anymore.
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you before I lose you.

I ruled and think they want me to supress my feelings,
I am not permitted to feel
but when I think about you,
I can’t be calculating anymore,
I am not loyal to myself anymore for you.

Sisi:

you have to understand me too.

Iwant to go with you
but don’t put me in a cage any longer
you don’t have to give me anything–
but leave me my life,
because I only belong to me.
I only belong to me.

Ich Will dir nu sagen (I just want to tell you)

Franz Josef:

Your husbands longs for you.
Let me be with you
Behind me is a problem-filled day
France is now threatening me openly
Scandals are neverending
National bankruptcy, war and revolution,
A wave of suicide and a new wave of typhus
But help me sleep in a ship in a safe port
guarded by your tenderness and
without wish for one night
Please open up to me, and don’t let me wait
Be the woman who understands me…Elisabeth

Sisi:

usually you like that much better.

Franz Josef:

What did I do?

Sisi:

I know everything.

Franz Josef:

They torture Rudolf?

Sisi:

she has to “educate” him.
He can’t defend himself.
But I won’t take it any longer.
It’s either her now or me.
I give you an ultimatum,
if you don’t want to lose me, fulfil it.
I want to be in charge of the education of my children
and I want to decide by myself what I do and where I go
Now read this document, and decide between your
mother and me, and now leave me alone.

Franz Josef:

relax in my arms
I want to comfort you,
escape and you will be free
and all the fighting will be over
I want to take you away from space and time
into a better reality

Elisabeth, Elisabeth, I love you

Sisi:

I am too young to give up
I know I can free myself
now I will use my beauty to my advantage–Go!
I don’t want you.
I don’t need you. Go!

Kitsch

Narrator:

While in the cathedral on this memorial day
of July 8th 1867,
the Emperor of Austria and his beautiful wife Elisabeth

become King and Queen of Hungary–
you have this once in a lifetime opportunity
to buy a valuable souvenir,
everything is cheap, please come closer.

I have two translations of the next few lines…I thought I’d include them both!

Wie wär´s mit diesem Bild?

Elisabeth als Mutter,

mit Rudolf ihrem Sohn!

Und hier ist das nicht nett?

Die Kaisers feiern Weihnacht,

im festlichem Salon.

Auf diesem Glas seh´n wir,

das hohe Paar in Liebe zugeneigt.

Einen Teller hab ich auch,

der Elisabeth beim beten,

in der Hochkapele zeigt.

Nehmt ein hübsches Souvinier mit,

aus der Kaiserlichen Welt.

Alles innig, lieb und sinning,

so wie es euch gefällt.

KITSCH

How would you like this card?
It shows our lovely Empress,
with Rudolf on her knee!
And this one is real art,
the whole imperial family,
around the Christmas tree.
And painted on this glass,
the lovely couple on their wedding day.
And on this dammed desk,
you can see Elisabeth,
while kneeing down to pray.
Take a nice souvenir,
out of the cheapest and the best.
All her life was sweet and rightful,
but now she´s nothing less than
KITSCH

How about this picture, Sisi as wife,
and as mother of Rudolph
and this one isn’t that nice…
The majesties celebrate Christmas.
On this glass we see the high couple
turning to each other in love.
I also have a plaque showing
Elisabeth praying in the court chapel.
Take a nice souvenir
with you from the old world
everything beautiful and lovely
the way you like it.
Kitsch, Kitsch, Kitsch.

don’t pretend as if you are
interested in the truth
you can have the truth for free,

but nobody wants her because she’s too depressing
Elisabeth is popular –
folks will still talk about her 100 years from now
but the way she truly was
you won’t get from any book or movie
andleast of all, from me!
What made her an idol amongst the people?
What left her with envy?
What is left of her life?

KITSCH….KITSCH…

I want to tell you a secret,

your Sisi was in reality
a mean selfish person
She was fighting for her son,

but just to show
Sophie that she is the stronger one.

But then she got rid of him
she was always only talking of fleeing herself.

She was living away from the Monarchy
and got a bank account in Switzerland
but what do I talk about?
People hear only what they want to hear.
That’s why the only thing left of beauty
and (dirt?death?I dunno!) and dream and reality is…

KITSCH

Mama, Wo bist Du (Mama, Where are you)

Rudolf:

Can you hear me?
I am so cold, please hold me.
Everybody says I should not disturb you
Why am I not allowed to be with you?
Mama, my room is so dark in the night
now that I am awake,
nobody is with me where I am crying.
Why do you leave me alone?

Death:

Don’t call for her

Rudolf:

Who are you?

Death:

whenever you need me, just come to me.

Rudolf:

STAY!!!

Death:

I will be close to you.

Rudolf:

Yesterday, I killed a cat!
I can be hard and evil as the world around me.
But sometimes I would rather like to be wise
Oh mum, I would like to be always with you
But when you travel you never take me with you and

when you’re at home, you close the door behind you.
Why do you leave me alone?

Nur Kein Genieren (Don’t get embarrassed)

in this kind of establishment
Don’t be stingy and don’t blush
leave your worries until tomorrow
in this Salon you never say “pardon”!
Don’t think about your position.
Relax!

So many nice ladies in beautiful surroundings
You will find here the girl of your dreams
Marie is dumb and funny
Helene is good natured and plump
Tatiana likes to curse in bed
For gentlemen who like to cuddle there is Grit
with the soft bosom
and Madeleine I can recommend to every man
who likes danger– the kid is injected!

Don’t get embarrassed, why be so shy
in this kind of establishment
Don’t be stingy and don’t blush
leave your worries until tomorrow
in this Salon you never say “pardon”!
Don’t think about your position.
Relax!

Not everyone comes in person,
it’s not unusual that a confidant comes
in his master’s place
instead of doing it himself, this gentleman selects
and then takes the most beautiful to come for him
This man comes from the very top
and you have to admit he choses with an expert’s eye.
The girl has suddenly hot flushes,
for a reason unknown to me.

Don’t get embarrassed, why be so shy
in this kind of establishment
Don’t be stingy and don’t blush
leave your worries until tomorrow
in this Salon you never say “pardon”!
Don’t think about your position.
Relax!

Rastlose Jahre (Restless Years)

maybe a change of air, a different country
She would like to go to Madeira
that is too far away away for the Emperor…
but that won’t change her mind
that’s exactly why she likes to go there.

Franz Josef:

I will count the days till your return.

just hurry from place to place.
They hardly arrive and start to pack their bags again.

Today they climb the mountains,
and tomorrow they see the ocean.
Breathless with tired feet,
we try to keep up with them.

Where is she going to, I wonder?
How is she doing?
When will she come back to Vienna?

Mirror, mirror in my hand,
10 years of restless travelling have passed by.
We dare ask the question
” is she still young…or…?”
OH A Grey hair!

Franz Josef:

I am longing even more for you.

Rudolf is 28 this year, and he worries me.

She’s running away with panic and fear
from the emptiness inside her.
The question may be asked
is she still beautiful..or?

She is riding like the devil,
always in front of everyone
We see them hunting through forests
and jumping over ditches-
the horses with flying manes and foaming mouthes.

There she is coming right after the pack,
not missing any hurdle,
she jumps over it and goes on with the hunt.
They are already out of sight,
behind the bushes behind the forest.
There they are again.
The captain rides first,
Elisabeth follows him.
Now there is a wall, the horses slow down,
but the captain risks the jump,
his horse jumps and breaks down the next moment,
and there is again his pursuer.
She gives her horse the spurs…
jumps over the wall…
laughs and is already out of sight.

Die Schatten Werden Langer (The shadows grow longer)

I have two translations of some of this song as well…I’ll put the partial translation first, with the German, and then the whole thing afterwards.

Tod:

zeit, das schweigen zu durchbrechen.

Du kennst mich, ja du kennst mich.

Weisst du noch du warst ein Knabe,
als ich dir versprochen habe,
das ich dir immer nah bleib.

Rudolf:

meinen Freund nach dem ich rufe.
Wenn mich meine Ängste fressen.

Tod:

Ich kam weil du mich brauchst

Rudolf:

könnt ich nur das Steuer drehen.
Doch ich muss daneben stehen,
man bindet mir die Hände.

Tod:

wie das unheil sich entwickelt.
Und in Ohnmacht zu sehen müssen.

Rudolf:

Das macht mich völlig krank.

Tod:

Dies ist der Augenblick.
Greif nach der,
tu es aus Notwehr.

Rudolf:

Notwehr?

Death:

for a private conversation.
You know me, yes you know me.
Since your childhood we’ve been friends
and our friendship hasn’t ended,
I promised not to leave you.

Rudolf:

everytime this nightmare hunts me.

Death:

You need me, here I am.

Rudolf:

Our ship has lost direction.
Is the shipman struck with blindness?
He does not even hear me.

Death:

you can see them spell disaster.
Rudolf:
Death:
- so do what you have to do.
  There you can take it,
  to be a rebel.
Rudolf:

Death:

It’s time to break the silence
you know me, yes, you know me
Do you still remember?
you were a young boy when I promised you
that I will always be near you

Rudolf:

I call for you when my fears overcome me.

Death:

I’ll come when you need me.

Both:

but everybody has a blind eye for it,

as long as the Pied Piper plays,
everybody is dancing around the Golden calf,

the shadows grow longer.
It’s always 5 minutes before midnight.
Time is almost over.

Time to see the rift of the old world,
I wish to turn the steering wheel,
But I have to stand by, my hands are tied.
Nothing is worse as seing how the evil develops
and watching it in utter powerlessness,
it makes me sick.

The shadows grow longer
and the songs become heavy and cold
the vicious circle becomes tighter
But one only believes what one likes to believe
the shadows grow longer–
it is 5 to midnight
What keeps your back?
This is the moment!
Seize the power, it’s just self defense. Nothing else.

The shadows grow longer–
what will be will be
We have to withstand evil
The shadows grow longer–
Emperor Rudolph will be with the new time.

Wenn Ich Dein Spiegel War (If I would be your mirror)

Rudolf:

How did I hope for you to break the silence?
But you are scared because we are so much alike
So tired of a world which is slowly beginning to die.

If I would be your mirror you could see yourself in me
then it would not be so hard for you to understand
what I don’t say.
You will turn around because you see yourself in me

You want to be close to me but not too close
When I look at you, your eyes look the other way
We are 2 strangers and at the same time
We’re so close
I give you signals,
want to reach you but there is this
wall that stands between us.

If I would be your mirror, you could see yourself in me
Then it wouldn’t be so hard for you to understand
What I don’t say

Sisi:

What’s going on? What do you want?

Rudolf:

I come to you in great pain
I feel trapped in a cage and alone
I face the danger to be dishonoured
in the face of the world

Only you can tell my problems
I don’t see a solution.

Sisi:

I don’t want to know…

Rudolf:

oh this dispicable scandal
Only you can help
if you would talk to the Emperor on my behalf
then there might have been some hope left….

Sisi:

I don’t belong to the Emperor anymore
I cut all his shackles
I never say please and
I won’t do it for you either!

Rudolf:

So you abandon me?

Mayerling–Walzer (Mayerling Waltz)

Totenklage (Death Lament)

Sisi:

You were like me, you needed me
I did not help you because I wanted to liberate myself.
How can you forgive me?
I have failed..and now I carry my own guilt.

If I could only hug you once last time
and defend you against the world
But it’s too late, they’ve taken you away
We’re both alone

Come open to me. Don’t let me wait.
Have I not endured enough?
Have mercy, come sweet death, cursed death
Redeem ME!……TOO LATE!

I don’t want you. I don’t need you. GO!

Mein Neues Sortiment (My new sortiment)

A strong collection–especially these pictures
The grieving mother at the coffin of her son
that moves every heart on shivers and feels full sympathy
— the mighty can also feel pain
God be thanked that we are not all rich and mighty
That is a comfort and has moral value
as you like it—KITSCH, Kitsch….

And our Empress still travels,
and starves and keeps silent.
Once in a while the Emperor travels after her
because he likes self punishment
And if she is still there when he arrives
there we have a rendezvous, gentle in the night
with view of the beach.

Boote in der nacht (Boats in the night)

Franz Josef:

You know why I came?

Sisi:

No, but I can guess

Franz Josef:

we belong together
I still believe in that
I love you, and love, the saying goes,

can heal all wounds

Sisi:

but sometimes, love is not enough
Faith is strong, but sometimes
it is also self deception
We wanted miracles, but they didn’t happen
It is about time that we see things more clearly
We are like two boats in the night
Every boat has its own destination and its own cargo
We meet each other on the ocean,
and then we are sad to part,
but what’s left of our rendezvous
isn’t for us to decide.

Franz Josef:

but sometimes a little can be a lot.

Sisi:

Your dream is too small for me

Franz Josef:

is that not good enough as a goal?

Sisi:

I don’t want to be your shadow

Both:

then you wouldn’t misunderstand me any longer.
We are like 2 boats in the night
every boat has its own destination
and its own cargo
we meet each other on the ocean and then we’re sad to part,

why is happiness so hard to achieve for us?

Sisi:

We’re like 2 boats in the night…

Franz Josef:

Why don’t you want to be with me?
Understand me, I need you. I love you
Why are we both alone?

Both:

we are more alone than before
why is achieving happiness so hard for us?

Franz Josef:

I love you

Sisi:

Please, understand, what cannot be cannot be.

Epilog (Epilogue)

Voice:

What did you want in …Lucheni?

Lucheni:

I wanted to kill the Prince of Orleans, but he was not there!

Voice:

Why instead the Empress Elisabeth?

Lucheni:

I heard on the news that she was visiting the city.

Voice:

When was that?

Lucheni:

On September 10th, 1898– A sunny day.

A doctor! Quickly, a doctor!
Oh God, she is dying, she is dying!!!

Der Schleier Fallt (The Veil is falling)

Death:

I was longing so much for you
Don’t let me wait.

Sisi:

erase all memories of me

give my soul a home

Both:

I want to drown with you in the emptiness
and ascend with you in the fire again
lose myself with you in eternity

Sisi:

I despaired and hoped again,
But whatever I did,
I was always loyal to myself

Both:

For the meaning of my/your life

Sisi:

For I belong…

Death:

You belong…

Both:

…to me!

End

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