Once o’er my dark and troubled life, There shone a ray of light, But now that cheering ray’s withdrawn Around me all is night. When children in the dark are left, And there perforce must stay, To still their little trembling hearts They sing a merry lay. So I, a foolish child, I sing, In the darkness of my heart And though the lay be nothing worth With it my griefs depart.
Three poems by Heinrich Heine in the translations of Mary Alexander
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847)
1. Once o'er my dark and troubled life  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Mary Alexander (1806 - 1859)
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, written 1823-1824, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 1, first published 1827
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
2. I wander through the wood and weep  [sung text checked 1 time]
I wander through the wood and weep, The thrush sits on the tree And gladly chirps and sweetly sings, What ails it now with thee. The swallows who thy sisters are, Can answer thee right well For in their nests, ah happy they, By my love’s house they dwell.
Authorship:
- by Mary Alexander (1806 - 1859)
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 4
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
3. What means the lonely tear?  [sung text checked 1 time]
What means the lonely tear? Which dims my saddened gaze? A remnant, ‘tis the last, Of early, bygone days. ‘Tis one of many sisters, Who long ago were shed, O’er former joys and sorrows, In wind and darkness fled. Like vapoury clouds dissolving, Those azure stars are gone, Which one each joy and sorrows, Once on my eyelids shone. And even my love has melted Away in empty air, Then go, thou lonely teardrop, Go thou and and join it there.
Authorship:
- by Mary Alexander (1806 - 1859)
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 27
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission