English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 9

by Richard Metzdorff (1844 - 1919)

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1. Sie haben heut' abend Gesellschaft  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Metzdorff (1844 - 1919), "Sie haben heut' abend Gesellschaft", op. 9 (Drei Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie [haben]1 heut' abend Gesellschaft
Und das Haus ist lichterfüllt.
Dort oben am [hohen]2 Fenster
Bewegt sich ein Schattenbild.

Du [siehst]3 mich nicht, im Dunkeln
Steh' ich hier unten allein,
Noch weniger kannst du schauen
In mein dunkles Herz hinein.

Mein dunkles Herze liebt dich,
Es liebt dich und es bricht,
[Es]4 bricht und zuckt und verblutet,
[Du aber]5 siehst es nicht.

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1 Geisler, Thalberg: "hat"
2 Lachner, Molitor, Pfitzner: "hellen"
3 Lachner, Molitor, Pfitzner: "schaust"
4 Pfitzner: "Und"
5 Lachner, Molitor, Pfitzner: "Aber du"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. They have company tonight
Language: English 
 They have company tonight,
 and the house is full of light.
 Up there at the high window
 moves a shadowy figure.
 
 You do not see me; in the dark
 here below, I stand alone.
 Even less can you see
 into my dark heart.
 
 My dark heart loves you,
 it loves you and it breaks;
 it breaks and twitches and bleeds,
 but you see none of this.

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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Ich wollt', meine Schmerzen ergössen sich  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Metzdorff (1844 - 1919), "Ich wollt', meine Schmerzen ergössen sich", op. 9 (Drei Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wollt, meine [Schmerzen ergössen]1
Sich all in ein [einziges]2 Wort,
Das gäb ich den [lustigen]3 Winden,
Die trügen es lustig fort.

Sie tragen zu dir, Geliebte,
Das [schmerzerfüllte]4 Wort;
Du hörst es zu jeder Stunde,
Du hörst es an jedem Ort.

Und hast du zum nächtlichen Schlummer
Geschlossen die Augen kaum,
So wird [dich mein Wort]5 verfolgen
Bis in den tiefsten Traum.

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Note: in Zenger's score, the first time we reach stanza 1, line 2, word 5, it is "einzig", and "einziges" in the repetition.

1 Mendelssohn: "Lieb' ergösse" (love would flow)
2 Mendelssohn: "einzig"
3 Mendelssohn: "lust'gen"; Zenger: "luftigen" (airy)
4 Mendelssohn: "lieb-erfüllte" (love-filled)
5 Mendelssohn: "mein Bild dich"; Zenger: "dich mein Auge"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. I wish my pain would flow into a single word
Language: English 
I wish my [pain]1 would flow
Into a single word,
Which I'd give to the [merry]2 winds,
Who would carry it merrily along.

They would carry it to you, my beloved, 
The [pain-filled]3 word;
You hear it always,
You hear it everywhere.

And scarcely have you closed your eyes 
To night-time slumbers,
My [word]4 will follow you,
Into your deepest dream.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Siân Goldthorpe and Christian Stein, (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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1 Mendelssohn: "love"
2 or "airy" (for "luft'gen")
3 Mendelssohn: "love-filled"
4 Mendelssohn: "image"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Siân Goldthorpe, Christian Stein
3. Du schönes Fischermädchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Metzdorff (1844 - 1919), "Du schönes Fischermädchen", op. 9 (Drei Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du schönes Fischermädchen,
Treibe den Kahn an's Land;
Komm zu [mir und setze]1 dich nieder,
Wir kosen Hand in Hand.

Leg' an mein Herz dein Köpfchen,
Und fürchte dich nicht [zu]2 sehr,
[Vertrau'st du dich]3 doch [sorglos]4
Täglich dem wilden Meer.

Mein Herz gleicht ganz dem Meere,
Hat Sturm und Ebb' und Fluth,
Und manche schöne Perle
In seiner Tiefe ruht.5

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 186; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 12.

First published as number XII of Drei und dreißig Gedichte von H. Heine in Der Gesellschafter oder Blätter für Geist und Herz. Herausgegeben von F. W. Gubitz. Achter Jahrgang. Berlin, 1824. In der Maurerschen Buchhandlung. Sonnabend den 27. März. 50stes Blatt, page 246.

1 Meyerbeer: "mir, setz"
2 André, Dresel: "so"
3 Dresel: "Trauest du"
4 Mendel: "täglich"
5 Meyerbeer adds: 
Komm! Komm!
Du schönes Fischermädchen, komm, komm,
Wir kosen Hand in Hand.
Komm! Komm! Komm!

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. You beautiful fishermaiden
Language: English 
You beautiful fishermaiden,
Pull your boat toward shore;
Come to me and sit down,
We will speak of love, hand in hand.

Lay your little head on my heart,
And do not be too frightened;
Indeed, you trust yourself fearlessly
Daily to the wild sea!

My heart is just like the sea,
Having storms and ebb and flow,
And many beautiful pearls
Rest in its depths.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall