English translations of Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte, opus 14

by Wilhelm Hill (1838 - 1902)

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1. Die stille Wasserrose  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Hill (1838 - 1902), "Die stille Wasserrose", op. 14 (Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1884 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Henkel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Die stille Wasserrose]1
Steigt aus dem blauen See,
[Die Blätter flimmern und blitzen]2,
Der Kelch ist weiß wie Schnee.

Da gießt der Mond vom Himmel
All' seinen gold'nen Schein,
Gießt alle seine Strahlen
In ihren Schooß hinein.

Im Wasser um die Blume
Kreiset ein weißer Schwan,
Er [singt]3 so süß, so leise
Und schaut die Blume an.

Er singt so süß, so leise
Und will im Singen vergehn --
O Blume, weiße Blume,
Kannst du das Lied verstehn?

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, Vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 63.

1 C. Schumann: "Die stille Lotusblume" or "Die stille Lotosblume"
2 Lachner, Wegener-Koopman: "Die feuchten Blätter zittern"
3 Kücken: "singet"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. The quiet lotus-blossom/water-rose
Language: English 
The quiet lotus blossom
sprouts from the pond so blue,
its leaves all glimmer and sparkle,
its bud is white as snow.

The moon pours down from heaven
all of its golden shine,
pours all its golden moonbeams
into her blossom heart.

In water 'round the blossom
circles the whitest swan
it sings so sweet, so softly
and gazes on the bloom.

It sings so sweet, so softly
and would but perish in song.
O blossom, whitest blossom,
can you conceive the song?

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.

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

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
2. Vöglein, wohin so schnell?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Hill (1838 - 1902), "Vöglein, wohin so schnell?", op. 14 (Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1884 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Frankfurt a/M., Henkel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vöglein, wohin so schnell?
„Nach Norden, nach Norden!
Dort scheint die [Sonne]1 [nun so]2 hell,
Dort ist's nun Frühling [worden]3.“

O Vöglein mit den Flügeln bunt,
Und wenn du kommst zum Lindengrund,
Zum Hause meiner [Lieben]4,
Dann sag' ihr, daß ich Tag und Nacht
Von ihr geträumt, an sie gedacht,
Und daß ich treu geblieben.

Und die Blumen im Thal,
Grüss tausend, tausendmal!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Zutphen, Thieme'sche Buchhandlung, 1873, pages 59-60.

1 Henkel: "Sonn'"
2 Thuille: "so"
3 Franz, Keller, Thuille: "geworden"
4 Franz, Heidingsfeld, Keller: "Liebe"; Thuille: "Liebsten"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. Little bird, where are you going so quickly?
Language: English 
 Little bird, where are you going so quickly?
 "To the north, to the north!
 There the sun is shining now so brightly,
 and there it has already become springtime."
 O little bird with colorful wings,
 when you come to the valley of linden trees,
 to the house of my beloved,
 tell her that day and night
 I dream about her and think about her,
 and that I have remained faithful.
 And to the flowers in the valley,
 greet them a thousand times!

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust