English translations of Lieder, opus 3

by Julius Caesar Schmidt (1818 - 1906)

Return to the original list

1. Was will die einsame Träne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Julius Caesar Schmidt (1818 - 1906), "Was will die einsame Träne", op. 3 (Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was will die einsame Thräne?
Sie trübt mir ja den Blick.
Sie blieb aus alten Zeiten
In meinem Auge zurück.

Sie [hatte]1 viel' leuchtende Schwestern,
Die alle zerflossen sind,
Mit meinen Qualen und Freuden,
Zerflossen in Nacht und Wind.

Wie Nebel sind auch zerflossen
Die blauen Sternelein,
Die mir [jene]2 Freuden und Qualen
Gelächelt ins Herz hinein.

Ach, meine Liebe selber
Zerfloß wie eitel Hauch!
Du alte, einsame Thräne,
Zerfließe jetzunder auch!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Sechsundfünfzigste Auflage (56th edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1887, page 147. Note: in this edition, the poem is number 29.

Modern German would change "Thräne" to "Träne".

1 Franz: "hat"
2 Cornelius: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. What does this solitary tear mean?
Language: English 
 What does this solitary tear mean?
 - it so blurs my gaze.
 It has lingered since long ago
 behind my eye.
 
 It had several shining sisters,
 which have all flown away
 with my agonies and joys,
 flown away in night and wind.
 
 Like mist have also faded away
 the blue little stars
 through which my joys and agonies
 were smiled into my heart.
 
 Alas, my love itself
 has vanished, like a vain breath!
 You old, lonely tear,
 flow down then and be gone!

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Mit deinen blauen Augen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Julius Caesar Schmidt (1818 - 1906), "Mit deinen blauen Augen", op. 3 (Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mit deinen blauen Augen
Siehst du mich [lieblich]1 an,
Da ward mir so träumend zu Sinne,
Daß ich nicht sprechen kann.
 
  An deinen blauen Augen
Gedenk' ich allerwärts: --
Ein Meer von blauen Gedanken
Ergießt sich über mein Herz.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

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 245.

1 Würz: "freundlich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. With your blue eyes
Language: English 
With your blue eyes
You look at me lovingly,
Then my senses grow so dreamy
That I cannot speak.

Of your blue eyes
I am reminded everywhere:
A sea of blue thoughts
Pours forth over my heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder, Rebecca Plack