English translations of Lieder, opus 4

by C. Kaufung

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1. Die heil'gen drei Könige aus Morgenland  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Kaufung , "Die heil'gen drei Könige aus Morgenland", op. 4 (Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die heil'gen drei Kön'ge aus Morgenland,
Sie frugen in jedem Städtchen:
Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem,
Ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen?

Die Jungen und Alten, sie [wußten es]1 nicht,
Die Könige zogen weiter;
Sie folgten einem goldenen Stern,
Der leuchtete lieblich und heiter.

Der Stern blieb stehn über Joseph's Haus,
Da sind sie [hineingegangen]2;
Das Öchslein brüllte, das Kindlein schrie,
Die heil'gen drei Könige sangen.

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Berlin, A. Warschauers Verlag, 1827, page 102. Note: it is number 39 in this edition, but 37 in later editions.

1 Strauss: "wußten's"
2 Lange-Müller: "hinein gegangen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. The three holy kings from the eastern land
Language: English 
The three holy kings from the eastern land
asked in every little village and town:
Where is the way to Bethelehem,
dear boys and girls?

Neither young nor old knew it,
so the kings sought further;
They followed a golden star
that shone lovely and joyous.

The star stayed standing over Joseph's house,
and there within was the child;
the baby ox bawled, the child cried,
and the three holy kings sang.

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  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sarah Hoffman, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

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This text was added to the website: 2007-01-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 72

Translation © by Sarah Hoffman