For many thousand ages The steadfast stars above Have gazed upon each other With ever mournful love. They speak a certain language, So beautiful, so grand, Which none of the philologians Could ever understand. But I have learned it, learned it For ever, by the grace Of studying the grammar -- My heart's own darling's face.
Heine Song Cycle
Song Cycle by John Joseph Becker (1886 - 1961)
1. For many thousand ages  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), appears in The poetical works, first published 1895
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 8
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Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin2. The earth is so fair and the heavens so blue  [sung text checked 1 time]
The earth is so fair and the heavens so blue, And the breeze is breathing so warmly too; And the flowers of the meadows are gleaming through The sparkling and glittering morning dew; And the people are joyous wherever I view. Yet were I in my grave at rest And folded close to my lost love's breast.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), appears in The poetical works, first published 1895
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 31
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Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin3. The Lotus‑flower doth languish  [sung text checked 1 time]
The Lotus-flower doth languish Beneath the sun's [fierce]1 light; With drooping head she waiteth All dreamily for night. The Moon is her true lover, He wakes her with his glance: To him she unveils gladly Her gentle countenance. She blooms and glows and brightens, Intent on him above, Exhaling, weeping, trembling, With ever-yearning love.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "Die Lotosblume ängstigt", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 59, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 10
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Becker: "warm"
Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin
4. A pine‑tree standeth lonely  [sung text checked 1 time]
[A]1 pine-tree standeth lonely In the North on an upland bare; It standeth whitely shrouded With snow, and sleepeth there. It dreameth of a [Palm Tree]2 Which far in the East alone, In mournful silence standeth On its ridge of burning stone.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "Ein Fichtenbaum steht einsam", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 67, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 33
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Becker: "The"
2 Allitsen: "Palmtree"; Becker: "palm-tree"
Research team for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
5. The violets blue of the eyes divine  [sung text checked 1 time]
The violets blue of the eyes divine, And the rose of the cheeks as red as wine, [And]1 the lilies white of the hands so fine, They flourish and flourish from year to year, [And]1 only the heart is withered and sere.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "Die blauen Veilchen der Äugelein", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 67, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 30
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View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Becker
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , T. P. (Peter) Perrin , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
6. Say! where is the maiden sweet  [sung text checked 1 time]
"Say, where is the maiden sweet Whom you once so sweetly sung, When the flames of mighty heat Filled your heart and fired your tongue?" Ah, those [flames]1 no longer burn, Cold and [drear]2 the heart that fed; And this brook is but the urn Of the ashes of love dead.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "Sag, wo ist dein schönes Liebchen", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 123, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 88
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Becker: "flowers" (?)
2 Becker "drear is"
Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin
7. My darling, we sat together  [sung text checked 1 time]
My darling, we sat together, We two in our frail boat. The night was calm o'er the wide sea Whereon we were afloat. The spectre island, the lovely, Lay dim in the moon's wild glance; There sounded sweetest music, There waved the shadowy dance. It sounded sweeter and sweeter, It waved there to and fro; But we slid past forlornly Upon the great sea-flow.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), "Mein Liebchen, wir sassen beisammen", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, p. 71, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 42
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Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin8. I gazed upon her picture  [sung text checked 1 time]
I gazed upon her picture, Absorbed in dreams of gloom, Till those beloved features Began to breathe and bloom. About her lips came wreathing That sweet, sweet smile I knew; The eyes were softly gleaming With tears as fresh as dew. And my tears sprang there also, The dark clouds' rain was shed; And, O my love I cannot Believe that thou art dead.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882), appears in The poetical works, first published 1895
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, written 1823-24, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 23, first published 1826
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Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin9. In the Rhine, in the beautiful River  [sung text checked 1 time]
In the Rhine, in the beautiful River, The mighty shadow is thrown, With its great Cathedral, Of holy and great Cologne. One picture in the Cathedral, On gilded leather wrought, Unto my life's wild sorrow Hath gracious comfort wrought: The dear Madonna, with floating Angels and flowers above; The eyes and the lips and the contour Are all just those of my love.
Authorship:
- by James Thomson (1834 - 1882)
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 11
Go to the single-text view
Researcher for this page: T. P. (Peter) Perrin