Das Bier ich in der Rechten trug English translation
von Versengold

I strolled leisurely, lost in thought, out of the tavern door With arms full of joyful delights, the nite lay before me A little pipe hung in my mouth, a maiden walked on my left arm In my right hand, a jug full of beer, thus we four wandered out But as I stepped onto the street, full of cheer and intent I stepped into muddy city filth and skidded along The ground swiftly slipped away, in the swing I took the maiden with me Who, in fright and her flight, knocked the pipe from my mouth

I supported myself with my left hand and threw myself high up And didn't exactly pull the girl's hair gently Then I kicked the pipe, which flew in a ring of sparks Away from the maid, who was just leaning forward, as I lost my grip again
I threw myself onto my back, and with my left hand and knee I forcefully pushed her away from me, so she fell astride and screamed Just then my shoe reached the pipe, and I quickly stepped on it So it flew away again from the woman, approaching the street dirt

I swung my upper body up and held and tore the maid by her dress That freed her not from the fall, but from the wretched dress Then I wanted my mouth to catch the pipe that fell to the ground So I bent my cross crooked and caught it, but the wrong way around Full of pain, I spat the ember in an all-too-wide arc And stretched myself full of bravado with my last strength in a rush Toward the maid, who shone brightly with my glowing ember in her hair Despite all the effort I put in, she fell splashing into the city refuse

So there I stood, embarrassed, covered in mud and muck, Smeared, stinking, musty even, with street dirt all around, Before a maid, half-naked, who looked at me, broiling and hurt, And defiantly turned away, sobbing, she ran home. Even my good tobacco was scattered all over the world, My good, noble tobacco, which I wanted to enjoy today. The hoped-for nite was gone, so I made my way home, And drank in one go the beer I held in my right hand.