[Susan McLean]

Cathy, you are supposed to use the literal translation as a guide to what the German says. That is what I do for the translations from languages I don't read. It is the only way we can have these kinds of bake-offs, since no one can be expected to read all languages fluently.

Susan

[Catherine Chandler]

Susan, I know that's the concept, but . . . at least most of these are from French originals .

[Martin Rocek]

I like this a great deal--the DG's complaint about the anaphora is partly mitigated by the music, where the melody supplies the repetition.

Again, kudos to the Yodeler!

[Mary McLean]

I like the first stanza enormously. My interest tails off a bit after that, but I think that is Brecht's fault rather than the translator's. Seems like a good solid job to me.

[Brian Allgar]

Excellent! It's great fun, and (with one or two minor exceptions) the translation fits the music almost perfectly, down to the little clusters of fast notes. I was sorry that the two fast notes at the start of the final line of each verse weren't retained, but I could only listen to the Ernst Busch version, and perhaps they are not in the one by Teresa Stratas.

[Diane Arnson Svarlien]

Originally Posted by R. S. Gwynn

A man lives by his wits
but they do not suffice.

but they just won't suffice (for a more relaxed tone)

The only word choice is question is "pretentious," which doesn't fit with the other words in the translation.

Very nice.

Sam Gwynn, Thanks for the pointers; I agree about "pretentious," and I've changed it to "man's too undemanding..." (with a little echo of "man" that seems OK to me). I didn't change "but they do not suffice," partly to avoid repeating "just," and also because I think the song has a schoolteacherish tone for which the primness of "they do not suffice" works.
Thanks Again!
--Diane