Album of Eight Songs [later reissued as Eight Songs from Poems by Heine]

Song Cycle by (Mary) Frances Allitsen, née Bumpus (1848 - 1912)

Word count: 956

1. Der Fichtenbaum  [sung text checked 1 time]

Ein [Fichtenbaum]1 steht einsam
Im Norden auf kahler Höh';
Ihn schläfert; mit weißer Decke
Umhüllen ihn Eis und Schnee.

Er träumt von einer Palme,
Die fern im Morgenland,
Einsam und [schweigend]2 trauert
Auf brennender Felsenwand.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 137.

1 Biegeleben: "Tannenbaum"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Marx: "schweigsam"

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]

1. A pinetree 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.

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1 Becker: "The"
2 Allitsen: "Palmtree"; Becker: "palm-tree"

Research team for this text: T. P. (Peter) Perrin , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

2. Saphire sind die Augen dein  [sung text checked 1 time]

[Saphire]1 sind die Augen dein,
Die lieblichen, die süßen.
O, dreimal glücklich ist der Mann,
Den sie mit Liebe grüßen.

[ ... ]

Rubinen sind die Lippen dein,
Man kann nicht schönre sehen.
O, dreimal glücklich ist der Mann,
Dem Liebe sie gestehen.

O, kennt ich nur den glücklichen Mann,
O, daß ich ihn nur fände,
So recht allein im grünen Wald --
Sein Glück hätt' bald ein Ende.

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1 Héritte-Viardot: "Saphiren"

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

2. Two sapphires those dear eyes of thine  [sung text checked 1 time]

Two sapphires those dear eyes of thine,
Soft as the skies above thee;
Thrice happy is the man to whom
Those dear eyes say: "I love thee."

[ ... ]

Two rubies are those lips of thine,
[Unrivalled]1 in fresh glory;
Thrice happy is the man to whom
They whisper their love story.

Could I but [find]2 that lucky man,
But meet that happy lover --
Meet him alone in some dark wood, --
His joy would soon be over. . .

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1 Allitsen: "Unrivall'd"
2 Allitsen: "meet"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

3. Du hast Diamanten und Perlen  [sung text checked 1 time]

Du hast Diamanten und Perlen,
Hast alles, was Menschenbegehr,
Und hast die schönsten Augen -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

Auf deine schönen Augen
Hab ich ein ganzes Heer
Von ewigen Liedern gedichtet -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

Mit deinen schönen Augen
Hast du mich gequält so sehr,
Und hast mich zu Grunde gerichtet -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Diamonds hast thou and pearls  [sung text checked 1 time]

Diamonds hast thou and pearls,
And all by which men set store,
And of eyes hast thou the finest --
Darling, what wouldst thou more?
 
Upon [thine]1 eyes so lovely
Have I a whole army-corps
Of undying songs constructed --
Darling, what wouldst thou more?
 
And with [thine]1 eyes so lovely,
Hast thou tortured me very sore,
And hast [ruined]2 me altogether --
Darling, what wouldst thou more?

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1 Allitsen: "those"
2 Allitsen: "ruin'd"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

4. Die Botschaft  [sung text checked 1 time]

Mein Knecht! steh auf und sattle schnell,
Und wirf dich auf dein Roß,
Und jage rasch durch Wald und Feld
Nach König Duncans Schloß.

Dort schleiche in den Stall, und wart,
Bis dich der Stallbub schaut.
Den forsch mir aus: "Sprich, welche ist
Von Duncans Töchtern Braut?"

Und spricht der Bub: "Die Braune ist's",
So bring mir schnell die Mär.
Doch spricht der Bub: "Die Blonde ist's",
So eilt das nicht so sehr.

Dann geh zum Meister Seiler hin,
Und kauf mir einen Strick,
Und reite langsam, sprich kein Wort,
Und bring mir den zurück.

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

  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The message", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le message", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. King Duncan's daughters  [sung text checked 1 time]

Up, boy! arise, and saddle quick,
And mount your swiftest steed,
And to King Duncan's castle ride
O'er bush and brake with speed.
 
There slip into the stable soft,
Till one shall see you hide,
Then ask him: Which of [Duncan's]1 girls
Is she that is [a]2 bride?
 
And if he say, The [dark-haired]3 one,
Then give your mare the spur;
But if he say, The [fair-haired]4 one,
You need not hurry her.
 
You only need, if [that's the case]5,
Buy me a hempen cord,
Ride slowly back and give it me,
But never speak [a]6 word.

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1 Stöhr: "the Duncan's"
2 Allitsen: "the"
3 Allitsen: "dark-hair'd"
4 Allitsen: "fair-hair'd"
5 Allitsen: "that be so"
6 Allitsen: "one"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

5. Seit die Liebste war entfernt  [sung text checked 1 time]

Seit die Liebste [war]1 entfernt,
[Hatt']2 ich's Lachen ganz verlernt.
Schlechten Witz [riß]3 mancher Wicht,
Aber lachen konnt' ich nicht.

Seit ich sie verloren hab,
Schafft' ich auch das Weinen ab;
[Fast]4 vor Weh das Herz mir bricht,
Aber weinen kann ich nicht.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Since my beloved went away", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Charles Beltjens) , no title, appears in Intermezzo lyrique, no. 35, first published 1827
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 139.

1 Lang: "mir"
2 Allitsen: "Hätt'", Lang: "Hab' "
3 Lang: "trieb"
4 Lang (1851 setting only): "Oft"

Research team for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]

5. Since my love now loves me not  [sung text checked 1 time]

Since my love now loves me not,
How to laugh I have forgot;
Jests no more my [griefs]1 beguile,
For I cannot, cannot smile.
 
Since my love now loves me not,
How to weep I have forgot;
Broken is my heart with woe,
But my tears refuse to flow.

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1 Allitsen: "grief"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

6. Mag da draußen Schnee sich türmen  [sung text checked 1 time]

Mag da draußen Schnee sich türmen,
Mag es hageln, mag es stürmen,
Klirrend [an mein Fenster]1 schlagen,
Nimmer will ich mich beklagen!
Denn ich trage in der Brust
Liebchens Bild und Frühlingslust.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English [singable] (J. Wrey Mould)
  • ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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1 Raff: "mir ans Fenster"

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]

6. Fathoms deep may drift the snow  [sung text checked 1 time]

Fathoms deep may drift the snow,
It may hail, and it may blow,
Till my windows groan and shake,
Moan for that I ne'er will make,
[For, while]1 in my breast I bear
My love's image, spring is [there]2.

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Confirmed with Poems and Ballads by Heinrich Heine done into English verse by Theodore Martin, C.B., Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, MDCCCLXXVII (1877), page 167.

1 Allitsen: "But while"
2 Allitsen: "here"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

7. Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht  [sung text checked 1 time]

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):

  • 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
  • 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]

7. Oh Death, it is the cold, cold night  [sung text checked 1 time]

Oh, death it is the cold, cold night,
And life it is the sultry day;
['Tis]1 growing dusk, I am drowsy--
The long, long day has tired me quite.
 
Over my bed there arches a tree;
There sings the early nightingale--
She sings of love [all the livelong night]2;
Her song comes even in my dreams [to me]3.

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Confirmed with Poems and Ballads by Heinrich Heine done into English verse by Theodore Martin, C.B., Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, MDCCCLXXVII (1877), page 181.

1 Allitsen: "It is"
2 Allitsen: "the whole night long"
3 omitted by Allitsen.

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

8. Katharine  [sung text checked 1 time]

Ein schöner Stern geht auf in meiner Nacht,
Ein Stern, der süßen Trost herniederlacht
Und neues Leben mir verspricht -
O, lüge nicht!

Gleichwie das Meer dem Mond entgegenschwillt,
So flutet meine Seele, froh und wild,
Empor zu deinem holden Licht -
O, lüge nicht!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

8. Katherine  [sung text checked 1 time]

A star dawns beauteous in my gloomy night,
A star that sheds sweet comfort [with its]1 light,
Promising me new life and joy,--
[Oh, do not lie]2!
 
Like as the ocean to the moon swells free,
So mounts my soul, daring and glad to thee,--
To thee, and to thy light of joy,--
[Oh, do not lie]2!

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1 Allitsen: "for it's [sic]"
2 Allitsen: "Oh, Love, be true"

Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]