English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 1

by Oswald Horlacher

1. O lüge nicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oswald Horlacher , "O lüge nicht", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Ein schöner Stern geht auf in meiner Nacht,
Ein Stern, der süßen Trost herniederlacht
Und neues Leben mir verspricht --
O, lüge nicht!

  Gleichwie das Meer dem Mond entgegenschwillt,
So flutet meine Seele, froh und wild,
Empor zu deinem holden Licht --
O, lüge nicht!

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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 288.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
  A radiant star rises in my night,
A star that smiles down sweet comfort
And promises me new life --
Oh, do not deceive!

  Just as the sea swells toward the moon,
My soul surges, joyfully and wildly,
Up toward your lovely light --
Oh, do not deceive!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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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Translations of titles:
"Ein schöner Stern" = "A radiant star"
"Ein schöner Stern erscheint in meiner Nacht" = "A radiant star appears in my night"
"Ein schöner Stern geht auf in meiner Nacht" = "A radiant star rises in my night"
"Ein Stern" = "A star"
"Katharina" = "Katharina"
"Katharine" = "Katharine"
"Mein Stern" = "My star"
"O lüge nicht" = "Oh, do not deceive"



This text was added to the website: 2025-01-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oswald Horlacher , "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

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: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oswald Horlacher , "Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein,
da sitz' ich mit meinen Träumen.
Es pfeift der Wind, die Möwen schrein,
die Wellen, die wandern und schäumen.

Ich habe geliebt manch schönes Kind
und manchen guten Gesellen -
Wo sind [sie]1 hin? Es pfeift der Wind,
es schäumen und wandern die Wellen.

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1 Bretan: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. The runestone juts into the sea
Language: English 
 The runestone juts into the sea,
 and I sit there with my dreams.
 The wind whistles and the seagulls shriek;
 and the waves, they wander and foam.
 
 I have loved many a fair girl
 and made many good friends -
 where have they gone? The wind whistles,
 and the waves foam and wander.

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: 8
Word count: 52

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Schattenküsse, Schattenliebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oswald Horlacher , "Schattenküsse, Schattenliebe", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schattenküsse, Schattenliebe,
Schattenleben, wunderbar!
Glaubst du Närrin, alles bliebe
Unverändert ewig wahr?

Was wir lieblich fest besessen
Schwindet hin wie Träumerein;
Und die Herzen, die vergessen,
Und die Augen schlafen ein.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Shadow kisses, shadow love
Language: English 
 Shadow kisses, shadow love,
 shadow life, wonderful!
 Do you believe, foolish girl, that everything remains
 unchanging and forever true?
 
 What corporal things we firmly possessed
 go off and disappear like dreams;
 hearts forget,
 and eyes fall sleep.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Emily Ezust