Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Five songs
Song Cycle by Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957)
View original-language texts alone: Fem sånger
På silvermolnets kant satt aftonstjärnan, Från lundens skymning frågte henne tärnan: Säg, aftonstjärna, vad i himlen tänkes, När första kyssen åt en älskling skänkes? Och himlens blyga dotter hördes svara: På jorden blickar ljusets änglaskara, Och ser sin egen sällhet speglad åter; Blott döden vänder ögat bort -- och gråter.
Authorship:
- by Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804 - 1877), "Den första kyssen", appears in Lyriska dikter II
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David McCleery) , "The first kiss", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Ensi suudelma", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le premier baiser", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Der erste Kuss ", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
På silfvermolnets kant satt aftonstjernan, Från lundens skymning frågte henne tärnan: Säg, aftonstjerna, hvad i himlen tänkes, När första kyssen åt en älskling skänkes? Och himlens blyga dotter hördes svara: På jorden blickar ljusets englaskara, Och ser sin egen sällhet speglad åter; Blott döden vänder ögat bort -- och gråter.
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Bertram Kottmann
As the evening star sat on the edge of the silver-lined cloud The maiden asked her from the twilit grove: "Tell me, evening star, what do they think in heaven When a lover receives her first kiss?" And heaven’s bashful daughter replied: "The angels look to earth And see the reflection of their bliss. Only death turns away, and weeps."
Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2018 by David McCleery, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Swedish (Svenska) by Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804 - 1877), "Den första kyssen", appears in Lyriska dikter II
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 60
Världen är så stor, så stor, Lasse, Lasse liten! Större än du nånsin tror, Lasse, Lasse liten! Det är hett och det är kallt, Lasse, Lasse liten! Men Gud råder överallt, Lasse, Lasse liten! Många mänskor leva där, Lasse, Lasse liten! Lycklig den som Gud har kär, Lasse, Lasse liten! När Guds ängel med dig går, Lasse, Lasse liten! Ingen orm dig bita få, Lasse, Lasse liten! Säg, var trives du nu mest, Lasse, Lasse liten? Borta bra men hemma bäst, Lasse, Lasse liten!
Authorship:
- by Zachris Topelius (1818 - 1898)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David McCleery) , "Little Lasse", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Lasse pieni", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Kleiner Lasse", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
The world is so big, so big Lasse, little Lasse! Bigger than you’d ever think Lasse, little Lasse! It’s hot and it’s cold Lasse, little Lasse! But God takes care of it all Lasse, little Lasse! Lots of people live there Lasse, little Lasse! And happy are those whom God loves Lasse, little Lasse! When God’s angels are by your side Lasse, little Lasse! No snake will poison you with its bite Lasse, little Lasse! So, where do you like most to be Lasse, little Lasse! Away is good, but home’s best for me Lasse, little Lasse!
Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2018 by David McCleery, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Swedish (Svenska) by Zachris Topelius (1818 - 1898)
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-21
Line count: 20
Word count: 97
Under himlens purpurbrand Ligga tysta sjö och land, Det är gryningsstunden. Snöig gren och frostvit kvist Tecka sig så segervisst Mot den röda grunden. Riddarn står vid fönsterkarm, Lyssnar efter stridens larm, Trampar golvets tilja. Men en smal och snövit hand Kyler milt hans pannas brand, Böjer mjukt hans vilja.tenderly Riddarn sätter horn till mun, Blåser vilt I gryningsstund, Över nejd som tiger. Tonen klingar, klar och spröd, Branden slocknar, gyllenröd, Solen sakta stiger.
Authorship:
- by Tor Hedberg (1862 - 1931)
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David McCleery) , "Sunrise", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Auringonnousu", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Lever de soleil", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Sonnenaufgang", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Beneath the purple sky Lie silent seas and lands, Day is breaking. Snowy branches and frosty twigs Cast their patterns victoriously Over the red earth. The knight stands by the window, Listens for the call to arms, Paces the room, back and forth. But a small, snow white hand Cools his fiery brow, Gently calms his will. The knight puts his bugle to his lips, Blows wildly into the morning light Towards the silent land. The sound rings out, bright and clear. The golden fire of dawn retreats And the sun slowly rises.
Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2018 by David McCleery, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Swedish (Svenska) by Tor Hedberg (1862 - 1931)
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 93
Var det en dröm, att ljuvt en gång jag var ditt hjärtas vän? Jag minns det som en tystnad sång, då strängen darrar än. Jag minns en törnros av dig skänkt, en blick så blyg och öm; jag minns en avskedstår, som blänkt. Var allt, var allt en dröm? En dröm lik sippans liv så kort uti en vårgrön ängd, vars fägring hastigt vissnar bort för nya blommors mängd. Men mången natt jag hör en röst vid bittra tårars ström: göm djupt dess minne i ditt bröst, det var din bästa dröm!
Authorship:
- by Josef Julius Wecksell (1838 - 1907)
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (David McCleery) , "Was it a dream?", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Oliko se unta?", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Était-ce un rêve ?", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "War es ein Traum ", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Was it a dream, that once upon a blissful time I was your heart’s friend? I remember it like a silent song Whose melody still lingers on. I remember you gave me a rose With a look so shy and tender, I remember the glistening of a parting tear. Was it all just a dream? A dream like a wildflower's life, So brief in the verdant meadow, Whose beauty quickly withers away Within an ocean of new flowers But on many a night I hear a voice Through a stream of bitter tears. Hide this memory deep in your heart For this was your best dream.
Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2018 by David McCleery, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Swedish (Svenska) by Josef Julius Wecksell (1838 - 1907)
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 106
Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte, kom med röda händer. Modern sade: "Varav rodna dina händer, flicka?" Flickan sade: "Jag har plockat rosor och på törnen stungit mina händer." Åter kom hon från sin älsklings möte, kom med röda läppar. Modern sade: "Varav rodna dina läppar, flicka?" Flickan sade: "Jag har ätit hallon och med saften målat mina läppar." Åter kom hon från sin älsklings möte, kom med bleka kinder. Modern sade: "Varav blekna dina kinder, flicka?" Flickan sade: "Red en grav, o moder! Göm mig där och ställ ett kors däröver, och på korset rista, som jag säger: En gång kom hon hem med röda händer, ty de rodnat mellan älskarns händer. En gång kom hon hem med röda läppar, ty de rodnat under älskarns läppar. Senast kom hon hem med bleka kinder, ty de bleknat genom älskarns otro."
Authorship:
- by Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804 - 1877), no title, appears in Lyriska dikter II, in Idyll och epigram, no. 1
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Anna Hersey) , "The girl returned from meeting her lover", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David McCleery) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Tyttö tuli rakastettuaan tapaamasta", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La fille revint d'un rendez-vous avec son amoureux", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , "Das Mädchen kehrt von ihrem Liebsten heim", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
The girl returned from meeting her love Returned with red hands. Her mother asked: "Why are your hands red, daughter?" The girl said "I was picking roses And the thorns pricked my hands." Once more she returned from meeting her love Returned with red lips. Her mother asked: "Why are your lips red, daughter?" The girl said "I was eating berries And the juice stained my lips." Once more she returned from meeting her love Returned with pale cheeks. Her mother asked: "Why are your cheeks pale, daughter?" The girl said "Dig me a grave, mother, Hide me there and place a cross on top, And engrave the cross with these words: ‘Once she returned with red hands, Red from being held between her lover’s hands. Once she returned with red lips, Red from being caressed by her lover’s lips. Finally she returned with pale cheeks Pale from her lover's betrayal.’ "
Authorship:
- Translation from Swedish (Svenska) to English copyright © 2018 by David McCleery, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Swedish (Svenska) by Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804 - 1877), no title, appears in Lyriska dikter II, in Idyll och epigram, no. 1
Go to the single-text view
Translation of title "Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte" = "The girl returned from meeting her love"This text was added to the website: 2018-01-21
Line count: 22
Word count: 152