(From: Magdalena Hornich in Wittichenau)
Translated by Ed Bernthal

The water girl
Went to do the washing
Ho he!
Went to do the washing.


She poured in the first bucket
And lost her ring
Ho he!
And lost her ring.

She poured in the second bucket
And lost her little cloth
Ho he!
And lost her little cloth.

For that she was scolded
Again and again by her parents
Ho he!
Again and again by her parents.

Then she was consoled about this
Again and again by her loved one
Ho he!
Again and again by her loved one.

‘Be still! Don’t cry, girl,
I will buy you a ring
Ho he!
I will buy you a ring.’

The girl did not listen to this
But kept on crying bitterly
Ho he!
But kept on crying bitterly.

‘Be still! Don’t cry, girl,
You will soon be mine
Ho he!
You will soon be my housewife.’

The girl was satisfied and sang
And sang a happy song and jumped
Ho he!
Sang a happy song and jumped

Jumped into the sea
And caught many fish
Ho he!
And caught many fish.

Cooked them for her sweetheart
Her most beloved sweetheart
Ho he!
Her most beloved sweetheart.

[No music available]