Love song waltzes

Translations © by Robert Schall

Song Cycle by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

View original-language texts alone: Liebesliederwalzer

1.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Rede, Mädchen, allzu liebes,
das mir in die Brust, die kühle,
hat geschleudert mit dem Blicke
diese wilden Glutgefühle!

Willst du nicht dein Herz erweichen,
willst du, eine Überfromme,
rasten ohne traute Wonne,
oder willst du, daß ich komme?

Rasten ohne traute Wonne,
nicht so bitter will ich büßen.
Komme nur, du schwarzes Auge.
Komme, wenn die Sterne grüßen.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
1.
Language: English 
Tell me, dear, my most beloved,
you, who has in age-old fashion
– with a glance that struck like lightning –
turned my cool to fiery passion:

Will your hardened heart not soften?
Would you, all too pure and true,
persevere without sweet pleasures,
– or should I now come to you?

Persevere without sweet pleasures?
Penance this harsh I decline!
Come to me, my dark-eyed laddie,
come, when moon and starlight shine.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Line count: 12
Word count: 73

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2.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Gesteine rauscht die Flut,
heftig angetrieben;
wer da nicht zu seufzen weiß,
lernt es unterm Lieben.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
2.
Language: English 
Water rushes over rocks,
thunderous and rough:
They who cannot sigh at that,
learn it when in love.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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3.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O die Frauen, o die Frauen,
wie sie Wonne tauen!
Wäre lang ein Mönch geworden,
wären nicht die Frauen!

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
3.
Language: English 
Women, women, oh these women,
how they dew delight!
But if I had been a monk,
How they would have cried!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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4.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie des Abends schöne Röte
möcht ich arme Dirne glühn,
Einem, Einem zu gefallen,
sonder Ende Wonne sprühn.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
4.
Language: English 
I, poor lass, wished I could glow
like the sunset’s scarlet red;
to enchant just one, just one,
limitless delight to spread.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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5.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die grüne Hopfenranke,
sie schlängelt auf der Erde hin.
Die junge, schöne Dirne,
so traurig ist ihr Sinn!

Du höre, grüne Ranke!
Was hebst du dich nicht himmelwärts?
Du höre, schöne Dirne!
Was ist so schwer dein Herz?

Wie höbe sich die Ranke,
der keine Stütze Kraft verleiht?
Wie wäre die Dirne fröhlich,
wenn ihr das Liebste weit?

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
5.
Language: English 
The bean plant’s tendrilled beanstalk
snakes low along the ground – it creeps!
The young and pretty lass
lies in a heap – she weeps!

Now hear me, creepy beanstalk,
should you not aim to climb up high?
And, surely, pretty girls should
rejoice instead of cry?

But how can beans climb upwards
without support by pole or bar?
And how can girls be happy
if their beloved is far?

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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6.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein kleiner, hübscher Vogel
nahm den Flug
zum Garten hin,
da gab es Obst genug.
Wenn ich ein hübscher,
kleiner Vogel wär,
ich säumte nicht,
ich täte so wie der.

Leimruten-Arglist
lauert an dem Ort;
der arme Vogel
konnte nicht mehr fort.
Wenn ich ein hübscher,
kleiner Vogel wär,
ich säumte doch,
ich täte nicht wie der. 

Der Vogel kam
in eine schöne Hand,
da tat es ihm,
dem Glücklichen, nicht and.
Wenn ich ein hübscher,
kleiner Vogel wär,
ich säumte nicht,
ich täte doch wie der.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
6.
Language: English 
A lovely little bird much
liked to fly
to orchards where
he sought some sweeter fruit.
If I were, too, a lovely
little bird,
I much should wish
to match his keen pursuit.

But trapped by birdlime set out
in one tree,
the hapless rascal was
no longer free.
If I were, too, a lovely
little bird,
I should not wish
his sticky end on me.

The bird was taken by
a gentle hand,
and found that was
the perfect place to land.
I wished I also were
a little bird,
to whom such handsome
mishap had occurred.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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7.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wohl schön bewandt
War es vorehe
Mit meinem Leben,
Mit meiner Liebe;
Durch eine Wand,
Ja durch zehn Wände,
Erkannte mich
Des Freundes Sehe;
Doch jetzo, wehe,
Wenn ich dem Kalten
Auch noch so dicht
Vor'm Auge stehe,
Es merkt's sein Auge,
Sein Herze nicht.

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Confirmed with Georg Daumer, Polydora: ein weltpoetisches Liederbuch, volume 2, page 62.

by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
7.
Language: English 
How well appointed
in times gone by
was all my life,
and all my love:
All through a wall,
yes, through ten walls
I would be seen
by my friend’s eye.
Now, woe to me:
That icy fish,
however near
I stand before him,
his heart won’t hear,
his eye won’t see.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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8.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn so lind dein Auge mir
und so lieblich schauet,
jede letze Trübe flieht
welche mich umgrauet.

Dieser Liebe schöne Glut,
laß sie nicht verstieben!
Nimmer wird, wie ich, so treu
dich ein andrer lieben.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
8.
Language: English 
When your eyes, with tender love,
rest on me, and see,
every shadow ever cast
instantly will flee.

Pray, the fervour of our love
may forever last:
What you have in humble me
will not be surpassed!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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9.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Donaustrande,
da steht ein Haus,
da schaut ein rosiges
Mädchen aus.

Das Mädchen,
es ist wohl gut gehegt,
zehn eiserne Riegel
sind vor die Türe gelegt.

Zehn eiserne Riegel
das ist ein Spaß;
die spreng ich
als wären sie nur von Glas.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
9.
Language: English 
A house stands apart
on the Danube’s wide shore,
a rosy lass lives there
according to lore.

The house is kept safe,
– like the lass, to be sure –
ten latches of iron
lock all doors secure.

Ten latches of iron?
Just one more than nine!
I snap them like matches:
One latch at a time!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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10.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O wie sanft die Quelle sich
durch die Wiese windet!
O wie schön, wenn Liebe sich
zu der Liebe findet!

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
10.
Language: English 
Look how fine the gentle stream
feeds the grassy field;
and how fine when gentle love
love in turn can yield!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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11.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen mit den Leuten;
Alles wissen sie so giftig auszudeuten.

Bin ich heiter, hegen soll ich lose Triebe;
bin ich still, so heißts, ich wäre irr aus Liebe.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
11.
Language: English 
With these people there’s no way to get along;
all one does, those snakes imagine, must be wrong:

If I’m lively, surely it’s some wanton drive.
Sad? Then I am lovesick and don’t have a life.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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12.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlosser auf, und mache Schlösser,
Schlösser ohne Zahl;
denn die bösen Mäuler will ich
schließen allzumal.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
12.
Language: English 
Locksmith make a thousand padlocks
– good and strong – for me!
For I want to shut all bad-mouths,
lock, and lose the key.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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13.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft,
sucht nach einem Aste;
und das Herz, ein Herz begehrt's,
wo es selig raste.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
13.
Language: English 
Swallows hurtle through the air,
diving for their nest;
and each heart seeks out a heart
where it may find rest.

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  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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14.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sieh, wie ist die Welle klar,
blickt der Mond hernieder!
Die du meine Liebe bist,
liebe du mich wieder!

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
14.
Language: English 
Here, the moon, one quiet night,
kissed the dreaming lake.
Every morning, anywhere,
kiss me, love, awake!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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15.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nachtigall, sie singt so schön,
wenn die Sterne funkeln.
Liebe mich, geliebtes Herz,
küsse mich im Dunkeln!

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
15.
Language: English 
Nightingale sings, while the stars
twinkle far above.	
I love you, beloved heart –
are you, too, in love?

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  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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16.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein dunkeler Schacht ist Liebe,
ein gar zu gefährlicher Bronnen;
da fiel ich hinein, ich Armer,
kann weder hören noch sehn,
nur denken an meine Wonnen,
nur stöhnen in meinen Wehn.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
16.
Language: English 
Love is a bottomless shaft,
a dark, all too dangerous well:
I neither can see nor can hear
since down its deep blackness I fell;
only think of the joy that is past,
only groan, for my sorrow will last.

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  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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17.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nicht wandle, mein Licht, dort außen
im Flurbereich!
Die Füße würden dir, die zarten,
zu naß, zu weich.

All überströmt sind dort die Wege,
die Stege dir;
so überreichlich tränte dorten
das Auge mir.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
17.
Language: English 
My love, don‘t venture outside,
be warned if you do!
Your delicate feet will get cold,
get soaked through and through.

The waters will flood even mountains,
run wide and high;
so strong flows the stream of my tears, once
I start to cry.

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18.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es bebet das Gesträuche,
gestreift hat es im Fluge
ein Vögelein.
In gleicher Art erbebet
die Seele mir, erschüttert
von Liebe, Lust und Leide,
gedenkt sie dein.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
18.
Language: English 
The shrubbery’s leaves tremble;
a small bird’s wing has touched them
in urgent flight.
You touch, in joy and sorrow,
my soul and make it tremble:
Will you, through joy and sorrow,
be by my side?

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Robert Schall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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