English translations of Zwei Lieder, opus 17

by Paul Slawitzky

1. Du bist wie eine Blume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Paul Slawitzky , "Du bist wie eine Blume", op. 17 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine [Blume]1
[So hold und schön und rein;]2
Ich [schau']3 dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als [ob ich]4 die Hände
Aufs Haupt [dir]5 legen sollt',
[Betend]6, daß [Gott dich]7 erhalte
[So rein und schön und hold]8.

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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.

1 Hamma: "Blüthe"
2 Ander: "So schön, so rein und hold"; Chadwick: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So hold, so schön und rein"; Becker, Thuille: "So hold, so schön, so rein"; Unger: "So rein so schön und hold"
3 Becker: "seh'"
4 Hinrichs: "ob"
5 Hinrichs: "ich dir"
6 Dreyschock: "und beten"
7 Liszt: "dich Gott"
8 Ander: "So hold und schön und rein"; Chadwick, Thuille: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So rein, so schön und hold"; Becker: "So rein, so schön, so hold"

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.

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  • 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. Ich will meine Seele tauchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Paul Slawitzky , "Ich will meine Seele tauchen", op. 17 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich will meine Seele tauchen
In den Kelch der Lilie hinein;
Die Lilie soll [klingend]1 hauchen
Ein Lied von der Liebsten mein.

Das Lied soll [schauern]2 und beben
Wie der Kuß von ihrem Mund,
Den sie mir einst gegeben
In wunderbar süßer Stund'.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 115.

1 Raif: "klingen und"
2 Raif: "schau'rn"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. I want to delve my soul
Language: English 
I want to delve my soul
Into the cup of the lily;
The lily should give resoundingly
A song belonging to my beloved.

The song should shudder and tremble
Like the kiss from her lips
That she once gave me
In a wonderfully sweet hour.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Paul Hindemith