An empress’ duty - Eine Kaiserin muss glänzen - 皇后の務め - Elisabeth the musical in English

Hi there friend! "What is this all about?" you may ask. Well I stumbled upon this musical in Japanese, and quickly found myself in a deep rabbit hole trying to understand and learn the songs. But since I do not know either Japanese or German (or any of the other languages you can find this musical in) I decided to translate my favourites for myself. I tried to stay as faithful to the original Austrian version, but through the lens of the Takarazuka revue and my Norwegian understanding of English. I know, it's a mess :P I'll make a video about my intentions for the translations, what my thoughts are, why I love the musical and so forth at some point. No pressure ;) And In the meantime if you have any question or thoughts, don't be shy and comment down below. So yeah, please enjoy this fan translation of Elisabeth the musical as I interpit it.

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Lyrics:

Sophie: Where is the empress?

Court Mistress: She's still asleep, your highness!

Sophie: Then wake her up this instant!

Court Mistress: Your highness!

Sophie: The lazy child is still in bed
It's time she finally comprehends
She needs to practice on her steadiness, her piousness and obedience

I fear it might be far too late

Ladies in waiting: A shame

Sophie: that her defiance is my fate

Ladies in waiting: What a saint

Sophie: Her undertaking is to placate Franz Joseph and reprocriate.

As the empress of a nation
You'll restrain your own emotion
You must pledge yourself to duty and devotion.

Ladies in waiting: Absolutely

Elisabeth: Good morning your highness, What can I do for you?

Sophie: You must get up, you've overslept

Elisabeth: It's only five o'clock

Sophie: This idleness I won't accept

Elisabeth: I'm recovering from fatigue I...

Sophie: We start the day swiftly at five o'clock, yes on the dot every morning.

Elisabeth: His excellence said I should stay in bed, gather some strength, reinvigorate.

Sophie: You slept very well from what I could tell. No innocence lost and no successor.

Elisabeth: How do you know?

Sophie: He told me so.

Elisabeth: That is absurd, he would not break his word

Sophie: The bond is quite strong between mother and son.

Elisabeth: I don't believe it.

Sophie: Then you should just ask him

Elisabeth: I'll do that

Sophie: That way you will learn.

I'm giving you a helping hand

Elisabeth: And I'm grateful for that

Sophie: But something you must understand

Elisabeth: I understand perfectly

Sophie: I do not wish to spend my day in endless dismay, having it out with you

Elisabeth: That's fine I want to go riding anyways

Sophie: Don't be daft

Court Mistress: So crude

Sophie: What would the papers come to draft?

Elisabeth: Why should I care?

Court Mistress: How rude

Sophie: Because your name now carry notoriety for the society you chose to serve

All except Elisabeth: As the empress of a nation

Elisabeth: But I...

All except Elisabeth: You'll restrain your own emotion
You must pledge yourself to duty and devotion.


Sophie: By god you look like a disgrace

Elisabeth: One moment and I'll go and wash up

Sophie: And let me see that face

Court Mistress: I'll start on your lace

Sophie: Your teeth are yellow I can tell

Elisabeth: I'll brush them well

Sophie: You'll have to get rid of that smell

Elisabeth: I'm not allowed to do what I want, I'm under investigation

Sophie: That's absurd, you must have misheard. I'm to take care of your education

Elisabeth: All that I do is checked on by you

Sophie: The empress must learn to respect her elders.

Elisabeth: I...

Sophie: First lesson is humility.

Elisabeth: I want...

Sophie: Stop it.

Elisabeth: Help me Franz Joseph, It pleases her when I'm upset!

All except Elisabeth and Franz Joseph: As the empress of a nation
You'll restrain your own emotion
You must pledge yourself to duty and devotion.

Elisabeth simultaneously: I'm trapped here, on my own
Save me, don't leave me alone

Franz Joseph: Mother.
It's difficult to be in your position
as well for me with all this tension
but nonetheless my mother knows what's best

I trust you to do what's right.

Sophie: Stay strong

Elisabeth: So that's it?

Keep calm

Elisabeth: You abandon me to rot in this prison.

Franz Joseph: Sisi!

Elisabeth: You deceived me!