English translations of 6 Lieder für Sopran, opus 8

by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932)

1. Müde bin ich, geh' zur Ruh'  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Müde bin ich, geh' zur Ruh'", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 1, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Müde bin ich, geh zur Ruh,
Schliesse beide Äuglein zu.
Vater, laß die Augen dein
Über meinem Bette sein.

Hab' ich Unrecht heut' gethan,
Sieh es, lieber Gott, nicht an!
[Deine Gnad' in Jesu Blut
Macht ja]1 allen Schaden gut.

Alle, die mir sind verwandt,
Gott, laß ruhn in deiner Hand!
Alle Menschen, groß und klein,
Sollen dir befohlen sein.

Kranken Herzen sende Ruh;
[Nasse]2 Augen schliesse zu.
[Laß den Mond am Himmel stehn
Und die stille Welt besehn.]3

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Confirmed with Luise Hensel, Lieder, sechste Auflage, Paderborn und Münster: Ferdinand Schöningh, 1887, page 49.

1 Hess, Le Beau: "Deine Gnad und Jesu Blut/ Macht ja"; Reinecke: "Deine Gnad und Jesu Blut/ Machen"
2 Reinecke: "Müde"
3 Reinecke: "Gott im Himmel halte Wacht/ gib uns eine gute Nacht."

by Luise Aloysia Maria Hensel (1798 - 1876)
1.
Language: English 
I am weary, I go to rest,
I close both of my little eyes,
Father, let Thy eyes
Keep watch over my bed.

Was I guilty of any iniquity today,
Dear God, please do not regard it!
[Thy mercy as shown in the blood of Jesus
Heals]1 all damages.

Let all who are related to me,
God, rest in Thy hand!
May all people, great and small,
Be entrusted to Thy care.

Send rest to sick hearts,
Close [tear-wet]2 eyes,
[Let the moon stand in the heavens
And gaze upon the quiet world]3.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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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Translations of titles
"Abendgebet" = "Evening prayer"
"Gebet" = "Prayer"
"Gebet zur Nacht" = "Prayer to the night"
"Luise Hensels barnaftonbön" = "Luise Hensel's Evening Prayer for Children"
"Müde bin ich" = "I am weary"
"Müde bin ich, geh' zur Ruh'" = "I am weary, I go to rest"
"Nachtgebet" = "Evening prayer"

1 Reinecke: "Thy mercy and the blood of Jesus/ Heal"
2 Reinecke: "tired"
3 Reinecke: "May God in Heaven keep watch/ [And] give us a good night"


This text was added to the website: 2013-09-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Das Blatt im Buche  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Das Blatt im Buche", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 2, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich [hab']1 eine alte Muhme,
[Die'n]2 altes Büchlein hat,
Es liegt in dem alten Buche
Ein altes, dürres Blatt.

So dürr [ist wohl auch die Hand schon]3,
[Die ihr's im Lenz einst]4 gepflückt. --
Was mag doch die Alte haben?
Sie weint, [so oft]5 sie's erblickt? --

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Confirmed with Anastasius Grün Blätter der Liebe, Stuttgart: Druck und Verlag von Gebrüder Franckh, 1830, page 64 (also consulted Gedichte von Anastasius Grün, Vierte, vermehrte Auflage, Leipzig: Weidmann'sche Buchhandlung, 1843, page 34; where the poem has the title "Das Blatt im Buche.")

1 Schultz: "hatte"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Decker, Reger, 1843 edition: "Die ein"
3 Decker, Reger, 1843 edition: "sind wohl auch die Hände"
4 Decker, Reger, 1843 edition: "Die's einst im Lenz ihr"
5 Decker, Reger, 1843 edition: "wenn"

by Anton Alexander, Graf von Auersperg (1806 - 1876), as Anastasius Grün
2.
Language: English 
I have an elderly aunt,
Who has a small, old book;
Lying in the old book - 
An old, dry leaf.

So very dry, as well, are the hands
Which once plucked it while in bloom.
What then does the elderly one do?
She weeps when she sees it.

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Nachts  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Nachts", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 3, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dem stillen Hause blick ich zu,
Gelehnt an einen Baum;
Dort liegt sie wohl in schöner Ruh
Und glüht in süßem Traum.

Zum Himmel blick ich dann empor,
Er hängt mit Wolken dicht.
Ach! hinter schwarzem Wolkenflor,
Da glänzt des Vollmonds Licht.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Meister Zimmermann  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Meister Zimmermann", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 4, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
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.


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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Wanderers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Wanderers Nachtlied", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 5, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Frohe Lieder will ich singen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Frohe Lieder will ich singen", op. 8 (6 Lieder für Sopran) no. 6, published 1869 [ soprano and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Frohe Lieder will ich singen
Und vergessen [allen]1 Schmerz,
Und ich will mich fröhlich schwingen
Mit der Lerche himmelwärts.

Denn der Frühling hat [mir]2 wieder
Aufgethan [sein]3 [reiches]4 Herz,
Und so steigen meine Lieder
Mit [der Lerche]5 himmelwärts.

Und es lauschen rings auf Erden
Knosp' und [Blüthe, Stein]6 und Erz:
Sollt' es [dir nur kund nicht werden,
Wie dich liebt mein frohes]7 Herz?

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Hoffmann von Fallersleben, Neunte Auflage, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1887, page 112.

1 Kleffel or Ries: "meinen" (needs to be checked)
2 Randhartinger: "uns"
3 Lachner: "mein"
4 Merxhausen (Decker): "weiches"
5 Lachner: "den Lerchen"
6 Merxhausen (Decker): "Blüth' und Stein"
7 Merxhausen (Decker): "nie denn kund dir werden / Wie dich liebt mein ganzes"

by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
6. I want to sing happy songs
Language: English 
I want to sing happy songs
And to forget all my pain,
And I want to sail joyfully,
With the lark, toward the heavens.

For spring has once again
Opened its abundant heart,
And thus my songs mount
With the lark, toward the heavens.

And listening on the earth, 'round about,
Bud and bloom, stone and ore:
Could you not know
How much my glad heart loves you?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Frohe Lieder" = "Happy songs"
"Frohe Lieder will ich singen" = "I want to sing happy songs"
"Frühlingslied" = "Song of Spring"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 68

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall