English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 7

by Emilie Mayer (1821 - 1883)

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1. Du bist wie eine Blume
 (Sung text)
by Emilie Mayer (1821 - 1883), "Du bist wie eine Blume", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Neustrelitz, G. Barnewitz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine Blume
So hold, so schön und rein
Ich schau' dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als ob ich die Hände
Aufs Haupt dir legen sollt',
Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte
So rein, so schön und hold.

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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 136.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Thou art, as is a flower
Language: English 
Thou art, as is a flower,
so meek and pure and fine,
I look at thee and sadness
steals o'er the heart of mine.

I feel that both my hands softly
thy hair, thy head should seek,
praying that God may preserve thee
so pure and fine and meek.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-08-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. O lass mich dein gedenken
 (Sung text)
by Emilie Mayer (1821 - 1883), "O lass mich dein gedenken", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Neustrelitz, G. Barnewitz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O lass mich dein gedenken
Wenn fern von dir ich bin,
Ich will's in Nacht versenken,
Dass ich dein eigen bin.
 
Ich will es Niemand sagen[,]
Ein leises duft'ges Bild[,]
Will ich's im Herzen tragen
Was meine Seele füllt.
 
Ich stehe ganz alleine
Am Fenster schmal und klein
Erhellt vom Mondenscheine
Und denke innig dein.
 
Und alles öd und stille[,]
Kein Lüftchen regt sich mehr[,]
Des Tages reiche Fülle
Ruht schlummernd rings umher.
 
Nur Mond und Sterne glänzen
In ihrer ewgen Ruh'
Und leichte Wölkchen ziehen
Und wehen ab und zu.
 
O lass mich dein gedenken[,]
Dein, wenn ich ferne bin,
Ich will's in Nacht versenken[,]
Dass ich dein eigen bin.

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by (Gustav) Hermann Kletke (1813 - 1886)
2. Oh let me think of you
Language: English 
Oh let me think of you
When I am far from you;
I shall bury it in night --
[The fact] that I belong to you.
 
I shall tell no one,
As a silent, scented image
I shall carry in my heart
That which fills my soul.
 
I stand all alone
At the narrow, small window
That is illumined by moonlight
And think of you fervently.
 
And everything is desolate and silent,
No breeze blows any longer;
The rich fullness of day
Rests, slumbering, all around.
 
Only moon and stars are gleaming
In their eternal peace
And light clouds are passing
And wafting to and fro.
 
Oh let me think of you,
You, when I am far away,
I shall bury it in night --
[The fact] that I belong to you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 

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This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 130

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Abendlied
 (Sung text)
by Emilie Mayer (1821 - 1883), "Abendlied", op. 7 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Neustrelitz, G. Barnewitz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn der Abendstern die Rosen
Still mit Sehnsuchts Blicken grüßt,
Und bei lauer Weste Kosen,
Blume sich an Blume schließt,
Dann ergreift mich heißes Bangen,
Ach! zu ruhn an deiner Brust,
Und von deinem Arm umfangen,
Zu vergehn in Schmerz und Lust.
 
Wennin grüner Waldung Mitte,
Rings von Blum und Busch umkränzt
Nun des Landmanns stille Hütte,
Friedlich süß im Mondlicht glänzt,
Ach! dann wünsch ich mir hienieden,
Solch ein Hüttchen, still und arm,
Seelger Unschuld Himmelsfrieden,
Und den Tod in Deinem Arm!

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by Wilhelmina Christiane von Chézy, née Klencke (1783 - 1856)
3. Evening song
Language: English 
When the evening star greets the roses
Silently with glances of yearning,
And at the caressing of warm [breezes]1
Flower lines up beside flower,
Then I am seized by fervent trembling,
Ah! to rest upon your breast,
And, embraced by your arms,
To perish in pain and rapture.
 
When in the middle of the green woodland,
Encircled by flowers and bush,
The quiet hut of the peasant now
Shines sweetly peaceful in the moonlight,
Ah! then I wish for myself down here on earth,
Such a little hut, quiet and warm,
[The heart’s peace] of blessed innocence,2
And death in your arms!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 

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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Mayer: "west winds"
2 Mayer: "Heaven’s peace"


This text was added to the website: 2016-01-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 104

Translation © by Sharon Krebs