English translations of Drei Gedichte für Bariton (oder Alt) mit Pianoforte, opus 2

by Al. Kern

1. Liebesweh  [sung text not yet checked]
by Al. Kern , "Liebesweh", op. 2 (Drei Gedichte für Bariton (oder Alt) mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1855 [ baritone or alto and piano ], Wien, Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"In meiner Brust, da sitzt ein Weh,
Das will die Brust zersprengen;
Und wo ich steh' und wo ich geh',
Will's mich von hinnen drängen.

"Es treibt mich nach der Liebsten Näh',
Als könnt die Grete heilen;
Doch wenn ich der ins Auge seh',
Muß ich von hinnen eilen.

"Ich steig' hinauf des Berges Höh',
Dort ist man doch alleine;
Und wenn ich still dort oben steh',
Dann steh' ich still und weine."

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, zweiundfünfzigste Auflage (52nd edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1882, pages 52-53.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Within my heart there lies an ache
Language: English 
"Within my heart there lies an ache
that will break my heart apart;
wherever I stay, wherever I go,
it is always pushing me onward.

"It drives me to my beloved's presence,
as if Grete could heal it;
but when I look her in the eye,
I must hurry away from there.

"I climb to the heights of the mountain,
for there one can be alone;
and when I stay up there silently,
then I stand mutely and weep."

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: 79

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Gondoliera  [sung text not yet checked]
by Al. Kern , "Gondoliera", op. 2 (Drei Gedichte für Bariton (oder Alt) mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1855 [ baritone or alto and piano ], Wien, Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.
Die Luft ist weich wie [Liebesscherz]1,
Sanft spielt [der goldne]2 Schein,
Die [Zither]3 klingt und zieht dein Herz
Mit in die Lust hinein.
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.

[Das ist für Liebende die Stund',
Liebchen, wie ich und du;]4
So friedlich [blaut]5 des Himmels Rund,
Es schläft [das Meer in Ruh]6.
Und wie es schläft, [da]7 sagt der [Blick]8,
Was [keine]9 Zunge spricht,
[Die Lippe]10 zieht sich [nicht]11 zurück,
[Und wehrt dem Kusse nicht.]12
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.

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1 Grimm: "Liebesschmerz" [sic]
2 Marschner: "im gold'nem"
3 Hensel: "Cither"
4 Schumann: "Dies ist für sel'ge Lieb' die Stund,/ Liebchen, o komm und schau,"
5 Grimm: "ruht"; Schumann: "strahlt"
6 Schumann: "des Meeres Blau"
7 Schumann: "so"
8 Grimm: "Mund"
9 Grimm, Hensel, Petzold, Schumann, Raff: "nie die"
10 Schumann: "Das Auge"
11 Esser: "nie"
12 Schumann: "zurück die Seele nicht"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. Gondola song
Language: English 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!
The air is as soft as love's teasing,
the golden glow is playing gently. 
The zither sounds and draws your heart
along with it into joy. 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!

[This is the blessed hour of love!]1
My darling, oh come and see!
The heavenly vault is glowing so peacefully,
the blueness of the sea is sleeping!
And as it sleeps, [our] glances speak
what [our] lips never dare to say. 
[Our] eyes do not retreat,
our souls do not shrink back. 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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.
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1 Schumann version: "This is the hour of blissful love!"


This text was added to the website: 2008-06-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 165

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Gebet  [sung text not yet checked]
by Al. Kern , "Gebet", op. 2 (Drei Gedichte für Bariton (oder Alt) mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1855, stanzas 7-10 [ baritone or alto and piano ], Wien, Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[ ... ]

"Du Hochgebenedeite,
Du reine Gottesmagd,
Du Königin des Himmels,
Dir sei mein Leid geklagt!

Ich wohnte mit meiner Mutter
Zu Köllen in der Stadt,
Der Stadt, die viele hundert
Kapellen und Kirchen hat.

Und neben uns wohnte Gretchen,
Doch die ist tot jetzund -
Marie, dir bring ich ein Wachsherz,
Heil du meine Herzenswund'.

Heil du mein krankes Herze -
Ich will auch spät und früh
Inbrünstiglich beten und singen:
'Gelobt seist du, Marie!'"

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. A Pilgrimage to Kevlaar
Language: English 
[ ... ]

"You kind and blessed Mother
So pure and so clement
You queen of all of Heaven,
Oh hear my sad lament!

I live here with my mother
At Koellen in the town,
We've hundreds here of chapels
And churches up and down.

And near us lived my Gretchen,
But death has made us part
Marie, take my waxen tribute,
And heal my grieving heart.

Heal thou my heart so troubled
And day and night for thee
I'll sing with true devotion
"Praise be to you, Marie!"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Leon Malinofsky, (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: 2007-12-10
Line count: 40
Word count: 223

Translation © by Leon Malinofsky