English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 1

by C. Grossmann

1. Sie liebten sich beide, doch keiner  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Grossmann , "Sie liebten sich beide, doch keiner", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Sie liebten sich beide, doch keiner
Wollt' es dem andern gestehn;
Sie sahen sich an so feindlich,
Und wollten vor Liebe vergehn.

  Sie trennten sich endlich und [sahn]1 sich
Nur noch zuweilen im Traum;
Sie waren [längst]2 gestorben
Und wußten es selber kaum.

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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 131.

1 Backer-Grøndahl, White: "sahen"
2 Backer-Grøndahl: "schon längst"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. They once loved each other
Language: English 
They once loved each other, but neither
would to the other confess;
they saw each other as hostile,
yet wanted to perish from love.

They finally parted and sometimes sighted
the other in dreams;
they had been dead so long now
and hardly known it themselves.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
2. Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Grossmann , "Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Jüngling liebt ein [Mädchen,]1
Die hat einen andern erwählt;
Der andre liebt eine andre,
Und hat sich mit dieser vermählt.

Das Mädchen [heiratet]2 aus Ärger
Den ersten besten Mann,
Der ihr in den Weg gelaufen;
Der Jüngling ist übel dran.

Es ist eine alte Geschichte,
Doch bleibt sie immer neu;
Und wem sie [just]3 passieret,
Dem bricht das Herz entzwei.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 144.

1 Heine: in the original published version: "Mägdlein"
2 Alnæs, Schumann: "nimmt" (took)
3 Engelmann: "jüngst"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. A young man loved a girl
Language: English 
A young man loved a girl
Who had chosen another man;
This other man loved yet another girl
And wed that one.

The first girl married out of spite
The first, best man
That happened into her path;
That young man is not well off.

It is an old story,
Yet it remains ever new;
And to he whom it has just happened,
It will break his heart in two.

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: 70

Translation © by Paul Hindemith