English translations of Vier Lieder von Heine, opus 9

by B. Kreutzer

1. Dein Angesicht, so lieb und schön  [sung text not yet checked]
by B. Kreutzer , "Dein Angesicht, so lieb und schön", op. 9 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Angesicht so lieb und schön,
Das hab' ich jüngst im Traum gesehn,
Es ist so mild und engelgleich,
Und doch so bleich, so [schmerzenbleich]1.

Und nur die Lippen, die sind rot;
Bald aber küßt sie bleich der Tod.
Erlöschen wird das Himmelslicht,
Das aus den frommen Augen bricht.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 114.

1 Schumann: "schmerzenreich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
Your face so lovable and fair:
I saw it recently in a dream.
It is so mild and angelic,
and yet so pale, so [pale with]1 pain!

And only your lips are red;
but soon Death will kiss them pale.
Out will go the heavenly light
that reflects out from your innocent eyes.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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1 Schumann: "full of"

Translations of titles
"Dein Angesicht" = "Your face"
"Dein Angesicht so lieb und schön" = "Your face so lovable and fair"
"Im Traumbild" = "In a dream image"
"Liebchens Angesicht" = "Darling's face"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 53

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by B. Kreutzer , "Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen", op. 9 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mädchen mit dem roten Mündchen,
Mit den Äuglein süß und klar,
Du mein liebes, kleines Mädchen,
Deiner denk' ich immerdar.

 Lang ist heut der Winterabend,
Und ich möchte bei dir sein,
[Bei dir sitzen, mit dir schwatzen]1,
Im vertrauten Kämmerlein.

  An die Lippen [wollt']2 ich pressen
Deine [kleine]3 weiße Hand,
Und mit Thränen sie benetzen,
Deine [kleine, weiße]4 Hand.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 137.

1 Dresel: "mit dir schwatzen, mit dir kosen"
2 Dresel: "möcht"
3 Dresel: "liebe"
4 Dresel: "weiße, liebe"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Maiden with the red little mouth
Language: English 
 Maiden with the red little mouth,
 with eyes sweet and clear:
 You are my dear little maiden -
 I think of you all the time.
 
 The winter evening drags tonight,
 and I would be with you,
 to sit by you and chat
 in a cosy little room.
 
 I would like to press to my lips
 your small white hand,
 and moisten it with my tears,
 your small white hand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Die alten, bösen Lieder  [sung text not yet checked]
by B. Kreutzer , "Die alten, bösen Lieder", op. 9 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die alten, bösen Lieder,
Die Träume [schlimm]1 und arg,
Die laßt uns jetzt begraben,
Holt einen großen Sarg.

Hinein leg' ich gar manches,
Doch sag' ich noch nicht was;
Der Sarg muß sein noch größer,
Wie's Heidelberger Faß.

Und holt eine Totenbahre,
[Von Brettern]2 [fest und dick]3;
Auch muß sie sein noch länger,
Als wie zu Mainz die Brück'.

Und holt mir auch zwölf Riesen,
Die müssen noch stärker sein
Als wie der [heil'ge]4 Christoph
Im Dom zu Köln am Rhein.

Die sollen den Sarg forttragen,
Und senken ins Meer hinab,
Denn solchem großen Sarge
Gebührt ein großes Grab.

Wißt ihr, warum der Sarg wohl
So groß und schwer mag sein?
Ich [legt']5 auch meine Liebe 
Und meinen Schmerz hinein.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 170.

1 Schumann: "bös'"
2 Schumann: "Und Bretter"
3 Jost: "dick und fest"
4 Schumann: "starke"
5 Schumann: "senkt'"
6 Jost adds a couplet from "Aus alten Märchen winkt es" at the end of his setting of this poem: 
Und aller Qual entnommen,
Und frei und selig sein!

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. The old, angry songs
Language: English 
The old, angry songs,
The dreams angry and wicked--
Let us now bury them.
Fetch a large coffin.

In it will I lay many things,
But I will still not say quite what.
The coffin must be still larger
As the cask in Heidelberg.

And fetch a death bier
And planks firm and thick;
They must be still longer
Than the bridge to Mainz.

And fetch me, too, twelve giants;
They must be still stronger
Than that strong St. Christopher
In the Cathedral to Cologne on the Rhine.

They should carry the coffin away
And sink it down deep in the sea,
Since such a great coffin
Deserves a great grave.

Do you know why the coffin
Must be so large and heavy?
I sank with it my love
And my pain, deep within.

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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4. Lieb Liebchen, leg's Händchen aufs Herze   [sung text not yet checked]
by B. Kreutzer , "Lieb Liebchen, leg's Händchen aufs Herze ", op. 9 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lieb' Liebchen, leg's Händchen [aufs]1 Herze mein; -
Ach, hörst du, wie's [pochet]2 im Kämmerlein?
Da hauset ein Zimmermann schlimm und arg,
Der zimmert mir einen Totensarg.

[Es]3 hämmert und klopfet bei Tag und bei Nacht;
[Es]3 hat mich schon längst um den Schlaf gebracht.
Ach! sputet Euch, Meister Zimmermann,
Damit ich [balde]4 schlafen kann.

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Note: first titled "Der Zimmermann"; later titled "Holzmeyer"
1 Medtner: "auf" [sic]
2 Lange-Müller: "pocht"
3 Lange-Müller: "Er"
4 Lachner: "bald"; Franz: "nun balde"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Dear sweetheart, lay your hand on my heart
Language: English 
 Dear sweetheart, lay your hand on my heart; -
 ah, do you hear the hammering inside?
 inside there lives a carpenter, wicked and evil:
 he's building my coffin.
 
 He hammers and pounds by day and by night;
 it has been a long time since I could sleep.
 Ah, hurry, Mister Carpenter,
 finish so that I can sleep.

Text Authorship:

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


Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 56

Translation © by Emily Ezust