English translations of Zwei Volkslieder für Männerchor , opus 11

by Robert Schwalm (1845 - 1912)

1. Habt ihr sie schon gesehen?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Schwalm (1845 - 1912), "Habt ihr sie schon gesehen?", op. 11 (Zwei Volkslieder für Männerchor ) no. 1, published 1873 [ men's chorus a cappella ], Königsberg i/Pr., Jakubowski
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Habt ihr sie schon geseh'n,
Sie, meinen Schaz,
Über die Gassen geh'n,
Über den Plaz?

Trägt sie den Korb am Arm,
Ist's eine Lust,
Aber ein Herz, wie warm,
Trägt ihre Brust.

Sittsamlich geht sie fort,
Jedermann grüßt,
Schaut sich um, red't ein Wort,
Wer von ihr wüßt'!1

Aber im Herzen drin,
Weiß ich es gut,
Daß ich im Sinn ihr bin,
Was sie nur thut.

Kommt dann die Nacht herein,
Dunkel und still,
Wie ich im Garten dein
Küssen dich will!

Die du nicht um dich blikst,
Kaum daß du grüß'st,
Fest mich dann an dich drükst,
Tausendmal [küß'st]2.

Schlägt drein die Nachtigall,
Reden wir leis',
Seh'n uns die Stern' auch all',
Niemand es weiß.

Küß'st unter'm Sternenzelt
Herzlich du mich,
Wer ist [dann]3 auf der Welt
Sel'ger als ich?

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Berthold Staufer, Stuttgart: A. Liesching & Comp., 1841, pages 79-81.

Note: this text has some unusual spelling (Schaz instead of Schatz, blikst instead of blickst, etc.) that was common in southwest Germany in the 19th century.

Notes for stanza 5, line 3: at least one Franz score has "wie ich ihm Garten dein". The word "ihm" is a typo and should be "im".

1 Franz, von Goethe add 
Aber der Alles weiß,
Sagt es Euch nicht,
Steigt ihm auch glühend heiß
Blut in's Gesicht
2 Franz: "küss't"
3 von Goethe: "denn"

by Karl August Friedrich Fetzer (1809 - 1885), as Berthold Staufer
1. Have you seen her yet?
Language: English 
Have you seen her yet,
[Seen] my darling, seen her
Walking through the streets,
Over the square?

When she carries a basket upon her arm
It is a joy to see,
But a heart, how warm [a heart],
She bears in her breast.

Demurely she walks on,
Everyone greets her,
Looks about, speaks a word,
If you only knew of her!1

But within her heart,
I know it well,
I am in her mind
Whatever she may be doing.

When night falls then,
Dark and silent,
In your garden
How I shall kiss you!

You, who do not look around,
Who hardly speaks a greeting,
Then you press me tightly against you,
Kissing me a thousand times.

When the nightingale sings,
We speak quietly,
Though all the stars see us,
No one knows of it.

When under the canopy of stars
You kiss me warmly,
Who in the whole world
Is then happier than I?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
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Subtitle: "Folksong"

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Translations of titles:
"Habt ihr sie schon gesehen?" = "Have you seen her yet?"
"Habt ihr sie schon geseh'n?" = "Have you seen her yet?"
"Verschwiegene Liebe" = "Concealed love"

1 Franz, von Goethe add 
But he who knows it all,
Shall not tell you,
Though glowingly hot
A blush rises in his face.


This text was added to the website: 2025-11-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 156

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Lieber Schatz, sei wieder gut mir  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Schwalm (1845 - 1912), "Lieber Schatz, sei wieder gut mir", op. 11 (Zwei Volkslieder für Männerchor ) no. 2, published 1873 [ men's chorus a cappella ], Königsberg i/Pr., Jakubowski
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dem Dornbusch 
Blüht ein Röslein,
  Ist ein' Lust, es anzusehn!
Wollt' es pflücken, 
Mich zu schmücken,
  Doch der Dorn läßt's nicht gescheh'n.

Sang ein Vöglein 
In den Lüften,
  Klang der Sang süß in's Gemüth:
,,Willst du brechen, 
Laß dich stechen,
  Ohne Dorn kein Röslein blüht.``

Lieber Schatz, sei 
Wieder gut mir,
  Lieber Schatz, leg ab dein'n Zorn:
Immer Schmollen, 
Immer Grollen --
  Für ein' Ros' wär's zu viel Dorn.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Wilhelm Osterwald, Dritte umgearbeitete und vermehrte Auflage, Leipzig, Verlag von F. G. C. Leuckart (Constantin Sander), 1873, page 46.


by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887)
2.
Language: English 
Within the thornbush
A little rose blooms,
What a joy it is to behold!
I would like to pluck it
So that I could adorn myself,
Yet, the thorns won’t allow that.

A tiny bird sang
Into the breezes,
The song sounded sweetly within the soul:
“If you would break it, 
You will be pricked,
Without a thorn, no rose blossoms.”

Dear sweetheart,
Be good to me once again,
Dear sweetheart, set aside your temper:
Always sullen,
Always grumbling – 
For one rose, that would be too many thorns.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2022-08-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 89

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall