English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 17

by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903)

Return to the original list

1. Lebewohl   [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Lebewohl ", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 1, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lebe wohl, [lebe]1 wohl, mein Lieb!
Muß noch heute scheiden.
[Einen Kuß, einen Kuß mir gib]2!
Muß dich ewig meiden. 

[Eine Blüt', eine Blüt' mir brich]3
Von dem Baum im Garten!
[Keine Frucht, keine Frucht für mich!]4
Darf sie nicht erwarten.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Uhlands Werke, Erster Teil, Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year], page 53.

1 Fröhlich: "leb'"
2 Fröhlich: "Einen Kuß mir noch gib"; Karg-Elert: "Einen Kuß, einen Kuß für mich"
3 Fröhlich: "Eine Blüte mir noch brich"
4 Fröhlich: "Keine Frucht mehr für mich"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1. Farewell
Language: English 
Farewell, farewell, my love!
I must leave today.
One kiss, give me one kiss!
For I must leave you forever.

One blossom, pick me one blossom
From the tree in the garden!
No fruit, no fruit for me! --
I dare not expect it.

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: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen,
Und ertrage dein Geschick.
Neuer Frühling [giebt]1 zurück,
Was der Winter dir genommen.

  Und wie viel ist dir geblieben!
Und wie schön ist noch die Welt!
Und mein Herz, was dir gefällt,
Alles, alles darfst du lieben!

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 136.

Note: contemporary German spelling would change "giebt" to "gibt".

1 Bruné: "bringt"; Lachner: "gibt dir"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed
Language: English 
Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed,
and bear your fate:
a new Spring will give back
what Winter has taken from you.

Just think how many things remain,
and how fair is the world!
And, my heart, whatever you find pleasing,
anything, everything - you may love!

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: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Scheiden und Meiden   [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Scheiden und Meiden ", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 2, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[So soll]1 ich [dich nun]2 meiden,
Du meines Lebens Lust!
Du küssest mich zum Scheiden,
Ich drücke dich an die Brust!

Ach, Liebchen, heißt das meiden,
Wenn man sich herzt und küßt?
Ach, Liebchen, heißt das scheiden,
Wenn man sich fest umschließt?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Hirsch: "Soll"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Dressler, Gotthelf: "nun dich"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. Parting and separation
Language: English 
So now I must shun you,
You, my heart's joy!
You kiss me in parting,
I press you to my breast!

Ah, my love, is this called shunning,
When one embraces and kisses the other?
Ah, my love, is this called separation,
When one clings so firmly?

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: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. In der Ferne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "In der Ferne", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 3, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Will ruhen unter den Bäumen hier,
Die [Vögelein]1 hör' ich so gerne.
Wie [singet]2 ihr so zum Herzen mir!
Von [unsrer]3 Liebe was wisset ihr
In dieser weiten Ferne?

Will ruhen hier an des Baches Rand,
Wo [duftige Blümlein]4 sprießen.
Wer hat euch Blümlein, [hieher]5 gesandt?
Seid ihr ein [herzliches]6 Liebespfand
Aus der Ferne von meiner Süßen?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Aggházy, Herrmann, Unger: "Vöglein"
2 Herrmann: "singt"
3 Andersson: "meiner"
4 Aggházy: "duftige Blumen"; Herrmann: "duft'ge Blumen"
5 Brahms, Andersson: "hierher"
6 Herrmann: "herzlich"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
4. Far away
Language: English 
I will rest under the trees here,
I enjoy listening to the little birds so much;
How can your singing affect my heart so!
What do you know of our love,
In this far-off place?

I will rest here on the edge of the brook,
Where fragrant little flowers sprout.
Who has sent you little blossoms here?
Are you a heartfelt pledge of love
From my far-off sweetheart?

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: 10
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Morgenlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Morgenlied", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 4, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 4, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Noch ahnt man kaum der Sonne Licht, 
Noch sind die Morgenglocken nicht 
Im finstern Tal erklungen.

Wie still des Waldes weiter Raum! 
Die Vöglein zwitschern nur im Traum, 
Kein Sang hat sich erschwungen.

Ich hab' mich längst ins Feld gemacht, 
Und habe schon dies Lied erdacht, 
Und hab' es laut gesungen

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
5. Morning song / Sunlight
Language: English 
One hardly yet expects the sun light,
The morning-bells have not
In the darkened valley yet sounded.

How quiet is the forest's wide realm!
The birds chirp only in their dreams,
No song has yet been offered.

I have myself been long in the fields,
And have devised this song already,
And have sung it loudly

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by John H. Campbell, (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: 2007-08-17
Line count: 9
Word count: 56

Translation © by John H. Campbell
6. Nachtreise  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Nachtreise", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 5, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 5, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich reit' ins finstre Land hinein, 
Nicht Mond noch Sterne geben Schein, 
Die kalten Winde tosen. 
Oft hab' ich diesen Weg gemacht, 
Wann goldner Sonnenschein gelacht, 
[Bei]1 lauer Lüfte Kosen.

Ich reit' am finstern Garten hin, 
Die dürren Bäume sausen drin, 
Die welken Blätter fallen. 
Hier pflegt' ich in der Rosenzeit, 
Wann alles sich der Liebe weiht, 
Mit meinem Lieb zu wallen.

Erloschen ist der Sonne Strahl, 
Verwelkt die Rosen allzumal, 
Mein Lieb zu Grab' getragen. 
Ich reit' ins finstre Land hinein 
Im Wintersturm, ohn' allen Schein, 
Den Mantel umgeschlagen.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Zenger: "Und"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
6. Journey at night
Language: English 
I am riding into the dark land,
Neither moon nor stars offer any light,
The cold winds are roaring.
I have often taken this track
When golden sunlight was smiling down,
With the caress of gentle breezes.

I am riding towards the dark garden,
The barren trees are rustling within it,
The faded leaves are falling.
Here I busied myself at the time of roses,
When everything was dedicated to love,
Spending time with my love.

The sun's beams have been extinguished,
Every one of the roses has withered,
My love has been carried to the grave.
I am riding into the dark land,
In the winter storm, without any light,
With my coat turned up.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Malcolm Wren, (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

Translations of title(s):
"Die Nachtreise" = "Journey at night"
"Ich reit' in's finstre Land hinein" = "I am riding into the dark land"
"Nachtlied" = "Night song"
"Nachtreise" = "Journey at night"
"Nachtritt" = "Riding at night"



This text was added to the website: 2020-04-20
Line count: 18
Word count: 116

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
7. Heimkehr  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Kewitsch (1834 - 1903), "Heimkehr", op. 17 (Drei Lieder) no. 6, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], from Sechs Wanderlieder für Männerchor, no. 6, Köln, Weber
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O brich nicht, Steg, du zitterst sehr!
O stürz' nicht, Fels, du dräuest schwer!
Welt, geh' nicht unter, Himmel, fall' nicht ein,
[Eh]1 ich mag bei der Liebsten sein!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Brahms: "Bis"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
7. The journey home
Language: English 
O break not, footbridge, you shake so very much,
O fall not, rocks on the cliff, you seem so threateningly heavy,
World, do not end, and sky, do not fall,
Until I may be with my beloved!

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

Translation of title "Heimkehr" = "The journey home"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 4
Word count: 37

Translation © by Emily Ezust