English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 53

by Charles Voss (1815 - 1882)

1. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Charles Voss (1815 - 1882), "Lied", op. 53 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1845 [ voice and piano ], Berlin & Posen: Ed. Bote und G. Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab' im Traum geweinet,
Mir träumte, du lägest im Grab.
Ich wachte auf, und die Träne 
Floß noch von der Wange herab.

Ich hab' im Traum geweinet,
Mir träumt', du verließest mich.
Ich wachte auf, und ich weinte
Noch lange bitterlich.

Ich hab' im Traum geweinet,
Mir träumte, du wär'st mir noch gut.
Ich wachte auf, und noch immer
Strömt meine Tränenflut.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. I wept in my dream
Language: English 
I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you lay in a grave.
I awoke, and my tears
Still flowed down my cheeks.

I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you had abandoned me.
I awoke and I cried
Bitterly for a long while.

I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you were still good to me.
I awoke, and still
Streams my flood of tears.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Charles Voss (1815 - 1882), "Lied", op. 53 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1845 [ voice and piano ], Berlin & Posen: Ed. Bote und G. Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand in [dunkeln]1 Träumen
Und [starrte]2 ihr Bildniß an,
Und das geliebte Antlitz
Heimlich zu leben begann.
 
Um ihre Lippen zog sich
Ein Lächeln wunderbar,
Und wie von Wehmuthsthränen
[Erglänzte]3 [ihr]4 Augenpaar.
 
Auch meine Thränen flossen
Mir von [den Wangen]5 herab -- 
Und ach, ich [kann es]6 nicht glauben,
Daß ich Dich verloren hab'!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 201; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 27.

1 Mendel: "dunklen"
2 Beach, Grieg, Schubert: "starrt'"
3 Hinrichs: "das"
4 Voss: "erglänzt"
5 Voss: "der Wang'"
6 Grieg, Hinrichs, Mendel, Schumann, Voss: "kann's"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2.
Language: English 
I stood in gloomy daydreams
and gazed at her portrait,
and that well-beloved countenance
began furtively to come to life.

About her lips there seemed to glide 
a wondrous smile,
and, as if they were about to fill with nostalgic tears,
her eyes glistened.
 
And my tears flowed
down my cheeks -
and ah, I cannot believe
that I have lost you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translations of titles
"Ihr Bildnis" = "Her portrait"
"Ihr Bild" = "Her portrait"
"Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen" = "I stood in gloomy daydreams"



This text was added to the website: 2017-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Ewige Nähe
 (Sung text)
by Charles Voss (1815 - 1882), "Ewige Nähe", op. 53 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1845 [ voice and piano ], Berlin & Posen: Ed. Bote und G. Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Heller ward mein inn'res Leben,
Schöner, seit ich dich erkannt,
Seit ein gleiches hohes Streben
Herz mit Herz so eng verband.
Meine Lieder, wie mein Fühlen,
Alles hab' ich dir geweiht.
Nichts konnt' meine Liebe kühlen,
Keine Trennung und kein Leid!
Und doch soll ich dir entsagen,
Dir, mein heller Lebensstern,
Soll die tiefe Nacht ertragen,
Dass ich dir auf ewig fern!
Nein, ach nein, so darf's nicht werden,
Nein, ach nein, es darf kein Abschied sein.
Ob getrennt, ob noch auf Erden,
Hier im Herzen bleibst du mein!

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Note to line 14: There is a typo in the published Lang score ("noch" instead of "nah"). This error is not found in her manuscript copy of the song. It has been corrected in more recent publications and above. However, since all the other composers who have set this text got it from Lang's score, the error persists in their settings.

On the Baroni-Cavalcabo score the poet is given as "N. B . . . n. Marie König's song has no poet. Both Lang and Voss give the poet as "A.v.C."

by Agnes von Calatin (1813 - 1844)
3. Eternal nearness
Language: English 
My inner life became more radiant,
More beautiful since I met you,
Since the same exalted striving
So closely united our hearts.
My songs [poems], like my feelings,
Everything I have dedicated to you.
Nothing was able to lessen my love,
No separation and no sorrow.
And yet I am to renounce you,
You, my [radiant]1 star of life;
I am to endure the dark night
Of eternal separation from you!
No, oh no, this must not happen!
No, oh no, there must be no farewell!
Whether we are separated [or close together]2 on earth,
Here in my heart you shall remain mine!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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.
    Contact: 

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Translated titles:
"Ewige Nähe" = "Eternal nearness"
"Heller ward mein inn'res Leben" = "My inner life became more radiant"
"Treue Liebe" = "Faithful love"
1 König: "beautiful"
2 Baroni-Cavalcabo, König, Voss: "yet"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
4. Das Posthorn
 (Sung text)
by Charles Voss (1815 - 1882), "Das Posthorn", op. 53 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1845 [ voice and piano ], Berlin & Posen: Ed. Bote und G. Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Posthorn schmettert, die Peitsche knallt;
Mir wird so weh um's Herz! 
Sie fahren dahin, der Ton verhalt; 
verhall'  nun auch, mein Schmerz! 
Sobald die linden Lüfte wehn,
Werd' ich sie Alle wiedersehn,
Die mich geliebt, 
Die ich geliebt.

Ich möchte wohl einst so begraben sein
Vom blasenden Postillon;
Nach jenem Land so still und klein
seh'n ich mich lange schon.
Sobald die linden Lüfte wehn,
Werd' ich sie Alle wiedersehn,
Die mich geliebt, 
Die ich geliebt.

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by (Georg) Adolf Glaßbrenner (1810 - 1876)
4. The posthorn
Language: English 
The posthorn blares, the whip cracks;
My heart fills with such woe!
They are travelling off, the sound dies away;
My pain, now die away as well!
As soon as the gentle breezes blow
I shall see them all again,
Those [whom I loved]1,
Those [who loved me]2.

Someday I would like to be buried thus
By a trumpeting stage coachman;
I have already been yearning long for 
That land so quiet and [pure]3.
As soon as the gentle breezes blow
I shall see them all again,
Those [whom I loved]1,
Those [who loved me]2.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Das Posthorn" = "The posthorn"
"Das Posthorn schmettert " = "The posthorn blares"
"Verloren" = "Lost"

1 Voss: "who loved me "
2 Voss: "whom I loved "
3 Voss: "small"


This text was added to the website: 2022-11-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs