Three Songs

Song Cycle by (James) Healey Willan (1880 - 1968)

1. Dimly sinks the summer evening
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Dimly sinks the summer evening
Over wood and over meadow;
And the golden moon shines radiant,
Balm diffusing, from the azure.

By the brook sings loud the cricket,
And the water clear is troubled,
And you hear a gentle plashing,
A soft breathing through the stillness.

By the brook, alone, see yonder,
Where doth bathe the lovely Nixie;
Arms and bosom, white and dazzling,
Gleaming in the moon's pale silver.

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

1. Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend
Über Wald und grünen Wiesen;
Goldner Mond, am blauen Himmel,
Strahlt herunter, duftig labend.

An dem Bache zirpt die Grille,
Und es regt sich in dem Wasser,
Und der Wandrer hört ein Plätschern,
Und ein Athmen in der Stille.

Dorten, an dem Bach alleine,
Badet sich die schöne Elfe;
Arm und Nacken, weiß und lieblich,
Schimmern in dem Mondenscheine.

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler

2. Night lies on the silent highways
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Night lies on the silent highways,
Sick my heart, my limbs how weary; --
Then like gentle balm descendeth,
Moon, thy soft light on me dreary.

Gentle moon, all dread nocturnal
With thy sweet light thou dost banish;
And mine eyes with tears well over,
And my torments melt and vanish.

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2. Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
     Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen, –
Krankes Herz und müde Glieder; –
Ach, da fließt, wie stiller Segen,
Süßer Mond, dein Licht hernieder.

     Süßer Mond, mit deinen Strahlen
Scheuchest du das nächt’ge Grauen;
Es zerrinnen meine Qualen,
Und die Augen überthauen.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. O Death! thou art the cooling night
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
O Death! thou art the cooling night;
O Life! thou art the sultry day:
It darkens, and I slumber --
I am wearied with the light.

Over my head is a tree, to my seeming,
And in it a nightingale sings;
It singeth of nought but love --
I can hear it amidst my dreaming.

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

3. Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht,
Das Leben ist der schwüle Tag.
Es dunkelt schon, mich schläfert,
Der Tag hat mich müd gemacht.

Über mein Bett erhebt sich ein Baum,
Drin singt die junge Nachtigall;
Sie singt von lauter Liebe -
Ich hör es sogar im Traum.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Death is the cool night", copyright © 2019
  • ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
  • ENG English [singable] (Daniel Platt) , "O Death, that is the cooling night", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Milla Valkeasuo) , "Kuolema on kylmä yö", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) (Ελενη Θεοδωριδου) , "Ο θάνατος είναι η κρύα νύχτα", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Max Mader) , "המוות דומה ללילה הקריר", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La morte è una notte fresca", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Sergio Sarano) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "La muerte es la fría noche", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 328