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Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein

Orlofsky's aria from the operetta Die Fledermaus (mezzo-soprano)
Text by Karl Haffner (Schlechter) (1804–1876) and Richard Genèe (1823–1895), after Le réveillon by
Henri Meilhac (1831–1897) und Ludovic Halévy (1834–1908)
Set by Johann Strauss II (1825–1899)

Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein,

     
I invite gladly to-me guests in,
(I love to invite guests in my home,)

man lebt bei mir recht fein,

     
one lives with me quite well,
(one feels quite comfortable here with me,)

man unterhält sich, wie man mag

     
one amuses oneself, as one will

oft bis zum hellen Tag.

    
often up to-the bright day.
(often to the light of day.)

Zwar langweil' ich mich stets dabei,

     
Although bore I myself always with-it,
(Although I am always bored)

Was man auch treibt und spricht;

     
whatever one also does or says;
(no mater what one does or says;)

indes, was mir als Wirt steht frei,

      
however, what for-me as host stands open,
(however, what for me as host is my privilege,)

duld' ich bei Gästen nicht!

    
tolerate I from guests not!
(I will not tolerate from my guests!)

Und sehe ich, es ennuyiert

    
and see I, it bores

Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (Die Fledermaus) J. Strauss–Page 1 of 4

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sich jemand hier bei mir,

    
oneself someone here with me,
(and if I see that someone finds it boring in my home,)

So pack' ich ihn ganz ungeniert,

     
so seize I him completely shamelessly,
(then, without further ado, I grab him by the collar)

Werf' ihn hinaus zur Tür.

    
throw him out through-the door.
(and throw him out the door.)

Und fragen Sie, ich bitte

    
and ask you, I ask
(Go ahead and ask, I beg you,)

warum ich das denn tu'?

    
why I that then do?
(why would I do such a thing?)

‘S ist mal bei mir so Sitte,

     
It's just with me (my) custom:
(It is just my custom:)

Chacun |à son gout!

   
Each to his-(own) taste!

Wenn ich mit andern sitz' beim Wein

      
When I with others sit over wine
(When I sit down with others for a glass of wine)

und Flasch' um Flasche leer',

    
and bottle after bottle empty,
(and empty bottle after bottle,)

Muss jeder mit mir durstig sein,

     
must everyone with me thirsty be,
(everyone must remain as thirsty as I)

Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (Die Fledermaus) J. Strauss–Page 2 of 4

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Sonst werde grob ich sehr.

    
otherwise become rough I very-much.
(otherwise I'm likely to get very rough.)

Und schenke Glas um Glas ich ein,

      
And pour glass after glass I out,
(When I start pouring glass after glass,)

duld' ich nicht Widerspruch;

   
tolerate I not contradiction;
(I do not tolerate any resistance;)

Nicht leiden kann ich's wenn sie schrein:

      
not stand can I-it when they cry:
(I can't stand it when someone cries:)

Ich will nicht, hab' genug!

    
I will not, I-have-had enough!
(I don't want to; I've had enough!)

Wer mir beim Trinken nicht pariert,

     
Who with-me in drinking not does-as-they-are-told,
(When drinking with me, anyone who does not do as they are told,)

Sich zieret wie ein Tropf,

    
himself needs-coaxing like a twit,
(or needs to be coaxed like some baby,)

Dem werfe ich ganz ungeniert,

    
him throw I quite uninhibitedly,

Die Flasche an den Kopf.

    
the bottle at the head.
(without hesitation I'll break the bottle on his head.)

Und fragen Sie, ich bitte

    
and ask you, I ask
(Go ahead and ask, I beg you)

Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (Die Fledermaus) J. Strauss–Page 3 of 4

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warum ich das denn tu'?

    
why I that then do?
(why would I do such a thing?)

‘S ist mal bei mir so Sitte,

     
It's just with me (my) custom:
(It is just my custom:)

Chacun |à son gout!

   
Each to his-(own) taste!

(Literal translation and IPA transcription © 2021 by Bard Suverkrop—IPA Source, LLC)

Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (Die Fledermaus) J. Strauss–Page 4 of 4