English translations of Zwei Lieder , opus 6

by Johann Lewalter (1862 - 1935)

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1. Schweizerlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Johann Lewalter (1862 - 1935), "Schweizerlied", op. 6 (Zwei Lieder ) no. 1, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Veit
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) 
[Uf'm]1 Bergli
Bin i [gesässe]2,
Ha de Vögle
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gesunge,
Hänt gesprunge,
Hänts Nästli
Gebaut.

In ä Garte
Bin i [gestande]3,
Ha de Imbli
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gebrummet,
Hänt gesummet,
[Hänt]4 Zelli
Gebaut.

Uf [d' Wiese]5
Bin i gange,
[Lugt'i]6 Summer-
vögle a;
Hänt gesoge,
Hänt gefloge,
Gar [z'schön hänt's]7
Gethan.

Und da kummt nu
[Der Hansel]8,
Und da zeig i
Em froh,
Wie sie's [mache]9,
Und mer [lache]10
Und [mache's]11
Au so.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 169-170; with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, pages 155-156; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Original-Ausgabe. Wien, 1816. Bey Chr. Kaulfuß und C. Armbruster. Stuttgart. In der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. Gedruckt bey Anton Strauß, pages 170-171.

1 Reichardt: "An ä"
2 Schubert: "gsässe"
3 Becker: "g'stande"; Schubert: "gstande"
4 Becker: "Hänt's"
5 Becker: "de Wiese"; Hiller: "di Wiese"
6 Becker: "Lug di"
7 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition): "zu schön hänt s'"; Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "zur schön hänts"
8 Becker: "Au der Liebste"
9 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "machen"
10 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "lachen"
11 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition): "machen's"; Schubert: "machens"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. The maiden in the meadow
Language: English 
On the hillside 
I sat,
Watching 
the birds;
They sang, 
they jumped;
They built 
nests.

In the garden 
I stood,
Watching 
the bees;
They hummed, 
they buzzed,
They built their 
hive.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Thomas A. Gregg, (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: 2007-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 31

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
2. Wandrers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Johann Lewalter (1862 - 1935), "Wandrers Nachtlied", op. 6 (Zwei Lieder ) no. 2, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Veit
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust