Song Cycle

Translations © by Emily Ezust

Song Cycle by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

View original-language texts alone: Liederkreis von Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff

1. In der Fremde
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus der Heimat hinter den Blitzen rot
Da kommen die Wolken her,
Aber Vater und Mutter sind lange tot,
Es kennt mich dort keiner mehr.

Wie bald, wie bald kommt die stille Zeit,
Da ruhe ich auch, und über mir
rauscht die schöne Waldeinsamkeit,
Und keiner kennt mich mehr hier.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Note: the first stanza was quoted as part of a text set by Einem.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. In a foreign place
Language: English 
From the direction of home, behind the red flashes of lightning
There come clouds,
But Father and Mother are long dead;
No one there knows me anymore.

How soon, ah, how soon will that quiet time come,
When I too shall rest, and over me
the beautiful forest's loneliness shall rustle,
And no one here shall know me anymore.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "In der Fremde" = "In a foreign place"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Intermezzo
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Bildnis wunderselig
Hab ich im Herzensgrund,
Das sieht so frisch und fröhlich
Mich an zu jeder Stund'.

Mein Herz still in sich singet
Ein altes schönes Lied,
Das in die Luft sich schwinget
Und zu dir eilig zieht.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Intermezzo
Language: English 
Your blissful, wonderful image 
I have in my heart's depths;
it looks so freshly and joyously
at me in every moment.

My heart sings mutely to itself
an old, beautiful song
that soars into the air
and hastens to your side.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of titles
"Dein Bildniss wunderselig" = "Your blissful, wonderful image"
"Dein Bildnis wunderselig" = "Your blissful, wonderful image"
"Intermezzo" = "Intermezzo"
"Andenken" = "Thoughts"
"Dein Bildniss" = "Your image"
"Dein Bildnis" = "Your image"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Waldesgespräch
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist schon spät, es ist schon kalt,
Was reitst du einsam durch den Wald?
Der Wald ist lang, du bist allein,
Du schöne Braut! Ich führ dich heim!

"Groß ist der Männer Trug und List,
Vor Schmerz mein Herz gebrochen ist,
Wohl irrt das Waldhorn her und hin,
O flieh! Du weißt nicht, wer ich bin."

So reich geschmückt ist Roß und Weib,
So wunderschön der junge Leib,
Jetzt kenn ich dich - Gott steh mir bei!
Du bist die Hexe Lorelei. -

"Du kennst mich wohl - von hohem Stein
Schaut still mein Schloß tief in den Rhein.
Es ist schon spät, es ist schon kalt,
Kommst nimmermehr aus diesem Wald."

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Conversation in the wood
Language: English 
It is already late, it is already cold;
why do you ride alone through the wood?
The wood is vast and you are alone,
you fair bride! I will lead you home.

"Great are the deceit and cunning of men;
my heart has broken for pain.
The forest horn strays here and there,
o flee! You do not know who I am." 

So richly decked are mount and lady,
so wondrously fair the young form;
now I recognize you - God stand by me!
You are the Witch Loreley.

"You recognize me well - from the lofty cliffs
my castle gazes down into the Rhine.
It is already late, it is already cold -
you shall never again leave this wood."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 118

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Die Stille
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es weiß und rät es doch Keiner,
Wie mir so wohl ist, so wohl!
Ach, wüßt es nur Einer, nur Einer,
Kein Mensch es sonst wissen sollt'!

So still ist's nicht draußen im Schnee,
So stumm und verschwiegen sind
Die Sterne nicht in der Höhe,
Als meine Gedanken sind.

 ... 

Ich wünscht', ich wäre ein Vöglein
Und zöge über das Meer,
Wohl über das Meer und weiter,
Bis daß ich im Himmel wär'!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Silence
Language: English 
No one knows or guesses
how glad I am, so glad!
Alas, if only one could know it, just one -
no other soul should know it!

The snow outside is not so quiet -
nor as mute and silent 
are the lofty stars,
compared with my thoughts.

[ ... ]

I wish I were a little bird -
I would fly over the sea,
well across the sea and farther,
until I were in heaven!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Die Stille" = "Silence"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Mondnacht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als hätt' der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm nur träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog durch die stillen Lande,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
5. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)
Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Schöne Fremde
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Es rauschen die Wipfel und schauern,
Als machten zu dieser Stund'
Um die halbversunkenen Mauern
Die alten Götter die Rund'.

  Hier hinter den Myrtenbäumen
In heimlich dämmernder Pracht,
Was sprichst du wirr wie in Träumen
Zu mir, phantastische Nacht?

  Es funkeln auf mich alle Sterne
Mit glühendem Liebesblick,
Es redet trunken die Ferne
Wie vom künftigem, großem Glück!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Gedichte von Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff, Halle an der Saale: Druck und Verlag von Otto Hendel, [no year], page 23.


by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
6. Beauteous foreign land
Language: English 
The treetops rustle and shiver
as if at this hour 
about the half-sunken walls
the old gods are making their rounds.

Here, behind the myrtle trees,
in secretly darkening splendor,
what do you say so murmuringly, as if in a dream,
to me, fantastic night?

The stars glitter down on me
with glowing, loving gazes,
and the distance speaks tipsily,
it seems, of great future happiness.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Emily Ezust
7. Auf einer Burg
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Eingeschlafen auf der Lauer
Oben ist der alte Ritter;
Drüber gehen Regenschauer
Und der Wald rauscht durch das Gitter.

  Eingewachsen Bart und Haare
Und versteinert Brust und Krause,
Sitzt er viele hundert Jahre
Oben in der stillen Klause.

  Draußen ist es still und friedlich,
Alle sind ins Thal gezogen,
Waldesvögel einsam singen
In den leeren Fensterbogen.

  Eine Hochzeit fährt da unten
Auf dem Rhein im Sonnenscheine,
Musikanten spielen munter,
Und die schöne Braut die weinet.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Gedichte von Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, Leipzig: C.F. Amelangs Verlag, 1892, page 28.


by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
7. In a castle
Language: English 
Asleep on his watch
up there is the old knight;
above move rainshowers,
and the wood rustles through the grill.

Beard and hair grown into one,
chest and ruff have turned to stone;
he sits for many hundreds of years
above in his silent den.

Outside it is quiet and peaceful:
all have taken to the valley;
woodbirds sing alone
in the empty arching windows.

A wedding passes by below
on the Rhine, in the sunlight:
musicians play gaily
and the fair bride - she weeps.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 85

Translation © by Emily Ezust
8. In der Fremde
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hör' die Bächlein rauschen
Im Walde her und hin,
Im Walde in dem Rauschen
Ich weiß nicht, wo ich bin.

Die Nachtigallen schlagen
Hier in der Einsamkeit,
Als wollten sie was sagen
Von der alten, schönen Zeit.

Die Mondesschimmer fliegen,
Als säh ich unter mir
Das Schloß im Thale liegen,
Und ist doch so weit von hier!

Als müßte in dem Garten
Voll Rosen weiß und roth,
Meine Liebste auf mich warten,
Und ist doch so lange todt.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Note: modernized spelling would change "Thale" to "Tale", "roth" to "rot", and "todt" to "tot"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
8. In a foreign place
Language: English 
I hear the brooklets rushing
here and there in the wood.
In the wood, amidst the rushing,
I know not where I am.

The nightingales sing
here in the solitude,
as if they wanted to speak
of fine old times.

The moonbeams dart
and I seem to see below me
a castle lying in the valley -
yet it is so far from here!

It seems as if, in the garden
full of roses white and red,
my sweetheart were waiting for me -
yet she is long since dead.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "In der Fremde" = "In a foreign place"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Emily Ezust
9. Wehmut
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich kann wohl manchmal singen,
Als ob ich fröhlich sei,
Doch heimlich Tränen dringen,
Da wird das Herz mir frei.

Es lassen Nachtigallen,
Spielt draußen Frühlingsluft,
Der Sehnsucht Lied erschallen
Aus ihres Kerkers Gruft.

Da lauschen alle Herzen,
Und alles ist erfreut,
Doch keiner fühlt die Schmerzen,
Im Lied das tiefe Leid.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
9. Melancholy
Language: English 
Sometimes I can sing
as if I were happy,
but secretly tears well up
and free my heart.

The nightingales, 
when spring breezes play, let
their songs of yearning resound
from the depths of their dungeons.

Then all hearts listen
and everyone rejoices;
yet no one truly feels the anguish
of the song's deep sorrow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Wehmut" = "Melancholy"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Translation © by Emily Ezust
10. Zwielicht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmrung will die Flügel spreiten,
Schaurig rühren sich die Bäume,
Wolken ziehn wie schwere Träume -
Was will dieses Grau'n bedeuten?

Hast ein Reh du lieb vor andern,
Laß es nicht alleine grasen,
Jäger ziehn im Wald und blasen,
Stimmen hin und wieder wandern.

Hast du einen Freund hienieden,
Trau ihm nicht zu dieser Stunde,
Freundlich wohl mit Aug' und Munde,
Sinnt er Krieg im tück'schen Frieden.

Was heut gehet müde unter,
Hebt sich morgen neu geboren.
Manches geht in Nacht verloren -
Hüte dich, sei wach und munter!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorffs sämtlich poetische Werk, Zweiter Band, Dritte Auflage, Leipzig, C. F. Amelang's Verlag, 1883, p. 436.

Note: some 20th century editions of Eichendorff have "wider" instead of "wieder" in stanza 2, line 4, but "wieder" is prevalent in the editions that came out in the 19th century. (With thanks to Alfred Liebel for pointing this out.)

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
10. Twilight
Language: English 
Dusk prepares to spread its wings,
the trees rustle ominously,
clouds approach like heavy dreams -
what does this horror mean?

If you have a favorite roe,
don't let it graze alone;
hunters roam the forest, sounding their horns,
their voices straying hither and thither.

If you have a friend on earth,
do not trust him in this hour;
friendly might he seem in eye and mouth,
yet he plans for war in deceitful peace.

What today goes wearily down,
will lift itself tomorrow newly born.
Much goes astray at night -
beware - be alert and wide awake!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: the last line was changed 2014-01-20 from "their voices straying time and again" to "their voices straying hither and thither".


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
11. Im Walde
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es zog eine Hochzeit den Berg entlang,
Ich hörte die Vögel schlagen,
Da blitzten viel Reiter, das Waldhorn klang,
Das war ein lustiges Jagen!

Der Bräutigem küsste die blasse Braut,
die Mutter sprach leis', "Nicht klagen!"
Fort schmettert das Horn durch die Schluchten laut,
Es war ein lustiges Jagen!

Und eh' ich's gedacht, war alles verhallt,
Die Nacht bedecket die Runde,
Nur von den Bergen noch rauschet der Wald
Und mich schauert's im Herzensgrunde.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
11. In the woods
Language: English 
Beside the mountain there passed a wedding party.
I heard the birds singing;
then there blazed past many horsemen, their forest horns sounding.
That was a merry hunt!

And before I could think about it, everything had died away
and the night threw a cloak all around.
Only from the mountains did the woods yet rustle,
and deep in my heart I shudder.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust
12. Frühlingsnacht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über'n Garten durch die Lüfte
Hört' ich Wandervögel ziehn,
Das bedeutet Frühlingsdüfte,
Unten fängt's schon an zu blühn.

Jauchzen möcht' ich, möchte weinen,
Ist mir's doch, als könnt's nicht sein!
Alle Wunder wieder scheinen
Mit dem Mondesglanz herein.

Und der Mond, die Sterne sagen's,
Und im Traume rauscht's der Hain,
Und die Nachtigallen schlagen's:
Sie ist deine! Sie ist dein!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
12.
Language: English 
Above the [gardens]1 and across the sky
I heard migrating birds passing;
that meant that spring was in the air;
below, things are already beginning to bloom.

I could rejoice, I could weep -
I feel as though it cannot be!
Old wonders appear again
with the moonlight.

And the moon and stars say it,
and in a dream the grove murmurs it,
and the nightingales sing it:
she is yours! She is yours!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translation of titles
"Frühlingsnacht" = "Spring night"
"Frühlingsbotschaft" = "Spring message"

1 or "garden" when the original is "Über'm"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Emily Ezust