Spanish love songs

Translations © by Sharon Krebs

Song Cycle by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

View original-language texts alone: Spanische Liebeslieder

1. Vorspiel
— Tacet —

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1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Tief im Herzen trag' ich Pein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tief im Herzen trag' ich Pein,
Muß nach außen stille sein.
 
Den geliebten Schmerz verhehle
Tief ich vor der Welt Gesicht;
Und es fühlt ihn nur die Seele,
Denn der Leib verdient ihn nicht.
Wie der Funke frei und licht
Sich verbirgt im Kieselstein,
Trag' ich innen tief die Pein.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. Deep within my heart I harbour anguish
Language: English 
Deep within my heart I harbour anguish,
Outwardly I must be silent.
 
I conceal the beloved pain
Assiduously from the face of the world;
And only the soul feels it,
For the body does not deserve it.
As the spark, free and bright,
Conceals itself within the pebble,
I harbour anguish deep within myself.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 2015-11-26
Line count: 9
Word count: 54

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Lied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O wie lieblich ist das Mädchen,
Wie so schön und voll Anmuth!
 
Sag mir an, du wackrer Seemann,
Der du lebst auf deinem Schiffe,
Ob das Schiff und seine Segel,
Ob die Sterne wohl so schön sind?
 
Sag mir an, du stolzer Ritter,
Der du gehst im blanken Harnisch,
Ob das Roß und ob die Rüstung,
Ob die Schlachten wohl so schön sind?
 
Sag mir an, du Hirtenknabe,
Der du deine Herde weidest,
Ob die Lämmer, ob die Matten,
Ob die Berge wohl so schön sind?

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. Song
Language: English 
Oh how lovely is the maiden,
How beautiful and full of grace!
 
Tell me, you valiant sailor
Who lives upon your ship,
Whether the ship and its sails,
Whether the stars are as beautiful [as she]?
 
Tell me, you proud knight,
Who walk about in shining armour,
Whether your horse and your weapons,
Whether the battles are as beautiful [as she]?
 
Tell me, you shepherd lad,
Who tends your flock,
Whether the lambs, whether the meadows,
Whether the mountains are as beautiful [as she]?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translation of title "Lied" = "Song"


This text was added to the website: 2013-06-15
Line count: 14
Word count: 84

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Duett
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bedeckt mich mit Blumen,
Ich sterbe vor Liebe.
Daß die Luft mit leisem Wehen
nicht den süßen Duft mir entführe,
    Bedeckt mich!
 ... 
Von Jasmin und weißen Lilien
sollt ihr hier mein Grab bereiten,
    Ich sterbe. 
Und befragt ihr mich: Woran?
sag' ich: Unter süßen Qualen
    Vor Liebe.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
4. Duet
Language: English 
Cover me with flowers;
I am dying of love.
[Cover me] so that the breeze with its light wafting
May not carry the sweet scent away [from me,]2
    Cover me!
[ ... ]
Of jasmine and white lilies
You are to prepare my grave here;
    I am dying.
And if you ask me: Of what?
I say: In sweet agony
    Of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translated titles:
"Bedeckt mich mit Blumen" = "Cover me with flowers"
"Ich sterbe vor Liebe" = "I am dying of love"
"Duett" = "Duet"
"Liebestod" = "Love death"

1 omitted by Rubinstein
2 omitted by Schumann.


This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 14
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Romanze
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Flutenreicher Ebro,
Blühendes Ufer,
All ihr grünen Matten,
Schatten des Waldes,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Die unter euch ruhet,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket!


Und ihr thauigen Perlen,
Die ihr im Frühroth
Den grünenden Rasen
Bunt mit Farben sticket,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Wenn sie Kühlung athmet,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket!
 
Ihr laubigen Pappeln,
Schimmerde Pfade,
Wo leichten Fußes
Mein Mädchen wandelt,
Wenn sie euch begegnet,
Fraget sie, fragt sie,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket!
 
Ihr schwärmenden Vögel,
Die den Sonnenaufgang
Singend ihr begrüßet
Mit Flötenstimmen,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Dieses Ufers Blume,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5. Romance
Language: English 
Water-rich Ebro,
Blooming [banks]1,
All you green leas,
Shadows of the forest,
Ask my beloved
Who rests beneath you,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me!

And you dewy pearls,
Which in the red of early morning
[Embroider]2 the green grass
So colourfully,
Ask my beloved,
When she breathes cool air,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me!

You leafy poplars,
Shimmering pathways,
Where with soft tread
My maiden wanders,
When she encounters you,
Ask her, ask her,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me!

You swarming birds
Who greet the sunrise
With the singing
Of your flute-like voices,
Ask my beloved,
The flower of this shore,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translations of title(s):
"Fluthenreicher Ebro, blühendes Thal" = "Water-rich Ebro, blooming valley "
"Flutenreicher Ebro, blühendes Ufer" = "Water-rich Ebro, blooming banks "
"Romanze" = "Romance"

1 Levinsohn: "valley", more changes may exist, not noted
2 Schumann: "Adorn"


This text was added to the website: 2017-03-08
Line count: 32
Word count: 121

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Intermezzo ‑ Nationaltanz
— Tacet —

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6.
[Translation not yet available]
7. Weh, wie zornig ist das Mädchen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weh, wie zornig ist das Mädchen!
Wer mag mit ihr reden, wer?

Im Gebirge geht das Mädchen
Ihrer Herde hinterher,
Ist so schön,  ...  wie die Blumen,
Ist so zornig, wie das Meer.

Weh, wie zornig ist das Mädchen!
Wer mag mit ihr reden, wer?

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
7. Woe, how wrathful is the maiden
Language: English 
Woe, how wrathful is the maiden!
[Who can speak with her, who?]1

The maiden walks in the mountains
Behind her flock,
She is as beautiful as the flowers,
As wrathful as the sea.

Woe, how wrathful is the maiden!
[Who can speak with her, who?]1

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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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1 Schumann: "Woe, how wrathful, woe, woe!"


This text was added to the website: 2013-06-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
8. Lied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hoch, hoch sind die Berge,
Und steil ist ihr Pfad;
Die Brunnen sprüh'n Wasser
Und rieseln ins Kraut.

O Mutter, o Mutter,
Lieb Mütterlein du!
Dort, dort in die Berge,
Mit den Gipfeln so stolz
Da ging eines Morgens
Mein süßester Freund.
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
Mit Zeichen und Wort,
Wohl winkt' ich mit allen
Fünf Fingern zurück --
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
mit Zeichen und Wort.

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2 Schumann: "Wohl rief ich zurück ihn/ mit Zeichen und Wort."
by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
8.
Language: English 
High, high are the mountains,
And their pathways are steep,
Water sprays forth from the springs
And trickles away into the heather.

Oh mother, oh mother,
You dear mother!
There, into the mountains
With their proud peaks,
One morning, went
My sweetest friend.
I called him back
With gestures and words,
I signalled him to come back
With every finger on my hand.
Water sprays forth from the springs
And trickles away into the heather.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 2011-03-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
9. Duett
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blaue Augen hat das Mädchen,
Wer verliebte sich nicht drein!

Sind so reizend zum Entzücken,
Daß sie jedes Herz bestricken,
Wissen doch so stolz zu blicken,
Daß sie eitel schaffen Pein!

Machen Ruh' und Wohlbefinden,
Sinnen und Erinnrung schwinden,
Wissen stets zu überwinden
Mit dem spielend süßen Schein;

 ... 

Keiner, der geschaut ihr Prangen,
Ist noch ihrem Netz entgangen,
Alle Welt begehrt zu hangen
Tag und Nacht an ihrem Schein.

Blaue Augen hat das Mädchen,
Wer verliebte sich nicht drein!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
9. Duet
Language: English 
Blue eyes hath the maiden,
Who would not fall in love with them!

[Her eyes] are ravishing to the point of rapture
So that they ensnare every heart,
And yet they know how to gaze so proudly
That they [create pure]1 suffering!

They make peace and wellbeing,
Pondering and remembering disappear;
They always know how to conquer
With their playful sweet gleaming!

[ ... ]

No one who has looked upon their splendour
Has managed not to get caught in their net,
All the world yearns to hang upon
Their shining day and night.

Blue eyes hath the maiden,
Who would not fall in love with them!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translated titles:
"Blaue Augen hat das Mädchen" = "Blue eyes hath the maiden"
"Duett" = "Duet"

1 Schumann: "do nothing but create"


This text was added to the website: 2013-06-15
Line count: 20
Word count: 127

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
10. Quartett
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick,
Todtes Leben, Lust und Plage,
Glück erfüllt von Mißgeschick,
Trübes Lachen, frohe Klage,
Süße Galle, holde Pein,
Fried' und Krieg in einem Herzen,
Das kannst, Liebe, du nur sein,
Mit der Lust erkauft durch Schmerzen.

Liebe, das kannst du nur sein!
Liebe, das kannst du nur sein,
dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick,
totes Leben, Lust voll Plage,
das kannst, Liebe, du nur sein!

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Note that in Schumann's song, the change in line 2 ("voll" to "und") is changed back in the repetition.

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
10. Quartet
Language: English 
Dark radiance, blind gazing,
Dead life, joy [full of]1 vexation,
Luck filled with mishap,
Dismal laughter, joyful lamenting,
Sweet gall, lovely suffering,
Peace and war within a single heart,
That, Love, can only be you,
With joy that has been paid for by pain.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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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1 Schumann: "and"; but "filled with" when repeated later.


This text was added to the website: 2013-06-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs