Singable translation by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)
Translation Singable translation possibly by Constance Bache (1846 - 1903) and possibly by William Stigand, né Stigant (1825 - 1915)

Sie singt ein Lied
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Russian (Русский) 
Sie singt ein Lied und mir erklingt es
als hör ich sel'ger Geister Chor
wie ferne Engelsstimmen dringt es
bezaubernd mir in Herz und Ohr.

Sie singt ein Lied und mich berauschen
wie überird'scher Harfenklang
die Töne einer Peri Sang
wähn ich voll Seligkeit zu lauschen.

Sie singt ein Lied die Töne fließen
belebend in mein krankes Herz
und aller Gram schweigt, aller Schmerz,
und unwillkührlich Thränen fließen.

Sie singt ein Lied und lauschend lange
halt ich den Athem an, daß mir
kein Hauch kein Wort entgeht von ihr
und ihrem wehmuthvollen Sange.

Sie singt ein Lied Gefühl und Schmerzen
so wahr aus ihren Tönen wehn;
daß einem gramerfüllten Herzen
nicht schwierig wird sie zu versteh'n.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English [singable] (Constance Bache) (William Stigand, né Stigant) , "Oh when she sings"


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2011-06-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 116

Oh when she sings
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oh when she sings to me her singing
Brings thoughts of some sweet heav'nly choir,
I hear far angelvoices ringing
To sounds of some celestial lyre.

Oh when she sings I faint with rapture,
So sweet unearthly harptones float,
No Siren with her magic note
E'er seized the soul with such soft capture.

Oh when she sings, her tones are bringing
Refreshment to my wounded heart,
It healeth all my sorrow's smart,
And unexpected tears are springing.

Oh when she sings I am her's wholly,
I hold my breath, I dare not stir
For fear of losing breath of her,
Or of her song's sweet melancholy.

Oh when she sings, such grief and feeling
She doth with all her accents blend,
That hearts with sorrow struck past healing,
Find it not hard to comprehend.

Note: from a Rubinstein score. It is unclear which of the two translators listed on the front page wrote this particular translation.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson

This text was added to the website: 2011-06-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 134