Song Cycle

Translations © by Michael P Rosewall

by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847)

View original-language texts alone: Liederkreis

1. Lebewohl
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Stören möcht' ich deinen Schlaf nicht,
und so bald doch ziehst du fort;
möcht' in deinen Traum mich stehlen,
möchte Liebes dir erzählen.
Schläfst du noch?

Und nun will ich sehr dich herzen,
will dich küssen, Bruder mein,
und ich kann es noch nicht fassen,
dass du gar uns willst verlassen.
Lebe wohl!

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
1. Farewell
Language: English 
I do not want to disturb your sleep,
And yet you will be leaving so soon;
I want to steal into your dreams,
Want to speak to you of love.
Are you still asleep?

And now I really want to embrace you,
Want to kiss you, my brother,
And I still cannot grasp it,
That you truly want to leave us.
Fare well!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 10
Word count: 63

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Grüner Frühling, süße Mailuft
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Grüner Frühling, süße Mailuft,
warum seid ihr gar so öde?
Tulpen ihr und blaue Winden,
warum glänzt ihr gar so blöde?
Vöglein, und du grämst dich heimlich,
Vöglein in der Linden!

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
2. Green Spring, sweet May air
Language: English 
Green Spring, sweet May air,
Why are you so dreary?
You tulips and blue morning glories,
Why do you glitter so feebly?
And, little bird, you fret so furtively,
Little bird in the linden tree!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 6
Word count: 35

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Nun ist's nicht öd' in meiner Brust
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun ist's nicht öd' in meiner Brust,
und dass du fern bist, kränkt mich nicht;
ich hab' es keck und ernst gewusst,
dass du wirst scheiden.
Nun hast du fort von mir gemusst -
ich will es leiden.
Und dass du mein bist, weiß ich's nicht?

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
3. My breast is no longer desolate
Language: English 
My breast is no longer desolate,
And the fact you are gone doesn’t grieve me;
I understood clearly and acutely
That you were going to leave.
You needed to get away from me -
I will endure it.
And are you mine? I don’t know.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 7
Word count: 44

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. O sprich, wo blieb dein lockig Haar?
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O sprich, wo blieb dein lockig Haar?
Du bist verändert ganz und gar.
Nun ist so still dein süßer Mund,
und deine Augen trübe,
und all dein Sinn ist trauerrund,
verwaiset alle Liebe.

Und nein, so kehrst du nicht zurück,
nein, heiter glänzt dein lieber Blick.
Es ist nicht möglich, dass dich so
die Fremde musste kränken;
ich will froh
an deine Heimkehr denken.

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
4. O tell me, where is your curly hair?
Language: English 
O tell me, where is your curly hair?
You’ve been altered fully and permanently.
Your sweet mouth is now so silent,
And your eyes are clouded,
And your entire demeanor so sad,
Utterly bereft of love.

And no, do not return like that,
No, your dear gaze shines more cheerfully.
It isn’t possible, that you
Must a stranger so shock;
I want to be glad
To think about your homecoming.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
5. Im Hochland, Bruder, da schweifst du umher
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Hochland, Bruder, da schweifst du umher,
im Hochland von Moor und Heide;
vom verwitterten Fels senkt Wolke sich schwer
hinab auf grünende Weide.
Da oben gewahrst du nicht Wand'rer, nicht Baum,
der Adler fliegt einsam im öden Raum.

Nun schäumt ein Gießbach ins Tal, zum See,
zum See in des Waldes Mitte,
d'rin spiegelt sich zierlich das trinkende Reh
und die Insel im See und die Hütte.
Da blinkt ein Lichtlein und ladet dich ein;
du ruderst hinüber, da nachts zu sein.

O könnt' ich schweifen und jagen mit dir,
auf dem See mit dir rudern und treiben,
auf heimlicher Insel wohnen mit dir
und bei dir, Bruder, bleiben!
Nun bist du fern und bleibst noch lang'
und, Bruder, wie ist mir nach dir so bang'!

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
5. In the highlands, brother
Language: English 
In the highlands, brother, there you roam,
From the moors and heath of the highlands.
From weathered cliffs clouds sink heavily
Upon blossoming pastures.
Up there one doesn’t notice a wanderer, nor a tree,
The eagle flies alone in the desolate realm.

A torrent froths into the valley toward the lake, 
the lake in the middle of the forest,
In which is finely mirrored a thirsty deer,
The lake island and cottages.
There a light twinkles and draws you;
You paddle over, to spend the night.

O if only I could roam and hunt with you, 
To paddle and drift on the lake,
To live with you on a remote island
And near you, brother, to remain!
You’re now so far away and sojourn so long
And, brother, how I worry about you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 18
Word count: 133

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
6. Wiederseh'n
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wir trugen unverdrossen,
was uns die Trennung Liebes nahm;
die Zeit ist nun verflossen,
der Trennung Zeit, der ferne Gram.
O deine Hand, und deine
hält nun ewig meine!

Und wir gedenken heiter
vergang'ner gut' und böser Zeit
und denken freudig weiter,
und keine Zukunft tut uns leid.
Gar schön ist's uns gegeben,
gar wundersüßes Leben.

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
6. Reunion
Language: English 
We dauntlessly endured,
What the separation took from us;
Now, time has paased,
The time of parting, the distant heartache.
O your hand, 
I would hold yours forever in mine!

And we remember gladly
Past times, good and bad,
And continue to think happily,
And no future can sadden us.
So beautifully it has been given to us,
This life so wonderfully sweet.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall