The absent-minded traveler

This is my singable translation of the song Zeur niet! (Don’t complain!) by Annie M. G. Schmidt, set to music by Harry Bannink.
Annie M. G. Schmidt (1911-1995) was a Dutch writer whose children’s books are still very well known. Her work for adults is a lot less known these days and often discounted, but at her best it’s brilliant, combining an undauntable sense of humor, a somewhat world-weary compassion, and absolutely scathing social commentary.
This song lists some things she’d prefer you do instead of complaining, and some of the reasons one might have for wanting to complain nevertheless. It is, I’m afraid, one of the things that give the best sense of who the Dutch are as a people: I’ve long wanted to be able to show it to non-Dutch speakers. The version linked is sung by Conny Stuart, one of the greats of Dutch song and a long-time interpreter of Schmidt.
The translation is, as per usual when I do these things, a compromise: it mostly rhymes, it mostly fits the tune, and it mostly makes sense. I hope you enjoy it nevertheless.

Connie sings for you

( Don't complain... )