#minnelied

Under der linden / Under the linden (Walther von der Vogelweide)

Under der linden an der heide, dâ unser zweier bette was, dâ muget ir vinden schône beide gebrochen bluomen unde gras. Vor dem walde in einem tal, tandaradei, schône sanc diu nahtegal.

Ich kam gegangen zuo der ouwe, dô was mîn friedel komen ê. Dâ wart ich enpfangen, hêre frouwe, daz ich bin sælic iemer mê. Kuster mich? Wol tûsentstunt: tandaradei, seht, wie rôt mir ist der munt. 

Dô het er gemachet alsô rîche von bluomen eine bettestat. Des wirt noch gelachet inneclîche, kumt iemen an daz selbe pfat. Bî den rôsen er wol mac, tandaradei, merken, wâ mirz houbet lac.

Daz er bî mir læge, wessez iemen (nû enwelle got!), sô schamt ich mich. Wes er mit mir pflæge, niemer niemen bevinde daz, wan er und ich, und ein kleinez vogellîn – tandaradei, daz mac wol getriuwe sîn. 

Under the linden, on the heather, where we two have bedded down, there you may find lovely broken flowers and grass strewn on the ground. By the forest, in a vale, “tandaradei!” sang the lovely nightingale.

I went out walking to the meadow, where my sweetheart awaited me. There I was so welcomed – Oh dear Lady! – that I’m blissful for eternity. A thousand kisses, and then some – “tandaradei!” – look how red my mouth's become.

There he had made us out of flowers a splendid bed just near our path. If anyone walks down that same way, how heartily they then will laugh! In the roses well they may – “tandaradei!” – spy the place where my head lay.

Ich zoch mir einen valken / I trained myself a falcon (Der von Kürenberg)

Ich zoch mir einen valken mere danne ein jar. do ich in gezamete als ich in wolte han und ich im sin gevidere mit golde wol bewant, er huop sich uf vil hohe und floug in anderiu lant. Sit sach ich den valken schone fliegen: er fuorte an sinem fuoze sidine riemen, und was im sin gevidere alrot guldin. got sende si zesamene die gerne geliep wellen sin!

Let's take a trip in the Wayback machine...

This is "Palästinalied" by the minnesinger Walther von der Vogelweide.

A minnesinger was the German equivalent of a Spanish troubadour or a French trouvère.  In other words, a minnesinger was a poet who wrote poetry and songs about courtly love.  Minnesingers were very popular in the 12th and 13th centuries (similarly with troubadours and trouvères).  The songs that minnesingers composed are known as minnelieds.

This particular minnelied is about the fifth crusade.

I hope you enjoy this middle aged treat.