English translations of Four Heine Lieder, opus 19

by Gary Noland

1. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gary Noland , "Aus meinen Tränen sprießen", op. 19 (Four Heine Lieder) no. 1, published 1990 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus meinen Tränen sprießen
Viel blühende Blumen hervor,
Und meine Seufzer werden
Ein Nachtigallenchor.

Und wenn du mich lieb hast, Kindchen,
Schenk' ich dir die Blumen all',
Und vor deinem Fenster soll klingen
Das Lied der Nachtigall.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 113.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. From my tears sprout forth
Language: English 
From my tears sprout forth
Many blooming flowers,
And my sighing become joined with
The chorus of the nightingales.

And if you love me, dear child,
I will send you so many flowers;
And before your window should sound
The song of the nightingale.

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: 44

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gary Noland , "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 19 (Four Heine Lieder) no. 2, published 1990 [ soprano and piano ]
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. Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gary Noland , "Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen", op. 19 (Four Heine Lieder) no. 3, published 1990 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen,
Wie tief verwundet mein Herz,
Sie würden mit mir weinen,
Zu heilen meinen Schmerz.

Und wüßten's die Nachtigallen,
Wie ich so traurig und krank,
Sie ließen fröhlich erschallen
Erquickenden Gesang.

Und wüßten sie mein Wehe,
Die [goldnen]1 Sternelein,
Sie kämen aus ihrer Höhe,
Und sprächen Trost mir ein.

[Die]2 alle können's nicht wissen,
Nur [eine]3 kennt meinen Schmerz;
[Sie]4 hat ja selbst zerrissen,
Zerrissen mir das Herz.

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View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 128.

Note: Christian Jost's setting begins "Zerrissen mir das Herz" (the last line) and then follows the rest of the text.

1 Jost, Schumann: "goldenen"
2 André, Jost, Schumann: "Sie"
3 Hensel: "einer"
4 Hensel: "Er"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
Language: English 
And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
How deeply wounded is my heart,
They would weep with me
To heal my pain.

And if the nightingales knew
How sad and ill I am,
They would let forth merrily
A refreshing song.

And if they knew my woe -
The little golden stars -
They would come down from their heights
And speak their consolation to me.

But all of them could not know this,
Only one knows my pain;
She herself has indeed torn,
Torn my heart in two.

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.
    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: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Paul Hindemith