English translations of 6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner, opus 41

by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875)

1. Der Nachtwächter
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Der Nachtwächter", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Unser Nachtwächter ist ein seltsamer Mann,
Er schreit durch die Gassen so laut er nur kann:
   "Bewahre uns, Herr Jesu Christ,
   Der helle Tag erstanden ist!
   Wohl um die vier Uhr!"

Doch in der Vorstadt am letzten Haus,
Da geht ihm auf einmal die Stimme aus,
Er klopft an's Fenster und flüstert sacht:
   "Zwei Stunden noch bleibt's sinkende Nacht,
   Oeffne mir, Schatzerl!"

Text Authorship:

  • by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907), title 1: "Nachtwächterlaune", title 2: "Der Nachtwächter"

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by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
1.
Language: English 
Our night watchman is a strange man,
He shouts through the streets as loudly as ever he can:
   “Protect us, Lord Jesus Christ,
   The bright day has risen!
   Truly around four o’clock!”

But in the suburbs by the last house,
Suddenly his [speech]1 dries up,
He knocks upon the window and whispers softly:
   “For two more hours the world shall remain sunken in night,
   Open up for me, sweetheart!”

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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Translated titles:
"Nachtwächterlaune" = "Moods of the night watchman"
"Der Nachtwächter" = "The night watchman"

1 Evers: "voice"


This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 10
Word count: 70

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Liebe ist an Sommers Statt
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Liebe ist an Sommers Statt", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Liebe ist an Sommers Statt,
Wer ein Lieb im Arme hat,
Der kann keck des Winters spotten --
Liebe ist an Sommers Statt.

Wenn die Sonne trüb auch scheint,
Wo Zwei stehen treu vereint,
Da wird's warm auch in der Kälte,
Wann die Sonne trüb auch scheint.

Lieb' entstand im Paradies,
Daraus hat sie auch gewiß
Ein Stück Wärme mitgenommen,
Lieb' entstand im Paradies.

Treue Liebe ewig brennt,
Feuersgluth geht bald zu End',
Darum ist der beste Ofen
Ein treu Herz, das ewig brennt.

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by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
2. Love has replaced summer
Language: English 
Love has replaced summer,
Those who hold a beloved in their arms
Can pertly mock at winter --
Love has replaced summer.

[When two are devotedly united,
Though the sun shines only dimly]1,
[Soon]2 it shall be warm even midst the cold,
[When two are devotedly united.]3

Love arose in paradise,
From whence with certainty
It took a portion of warmth along,
Love arose in paradise.

True love blazes eternally,
The glow of a fire soon ends,
Thus, [seek for this cold life]4
A true heart, that blazes eternally.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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Translated titles:
"Liebe ist an Sommers Statt" = "Love has replaced summer"
"Warme Liebe" = "Fervent Love"

1 Evers: "Though the sun shines only dimly,/ When two are devotedly united"
2 Evers: "Then"
3 Evers: "Should the sun shine only dimly."
4 Evers: "the best oven is"


This text was added to the website: 2014-06-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 93

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Winter kommt!
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Der Winter kommt!", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O weh, ihr schlanken Bächlein
Durch Wiese und durch Wald,
Der Winter kommt, der Winter kommt,
Macht euch zu Eise bald.

O weh, ihr zarten Blumen
Auf Bergen und im Thal,
Der Winter kommt, der Winter kommt,
Macht welken euch zumal.

O weh, du armer Junge,
Amor, was fängst 
fangst du an?
Der Winter kommt, der Winter kommt,
Du hast kein Röcklein an!

O sieh, dort fliegen Storchen,
Heb' deine Flügelein,
Der Winter kommt! Zieh mit! zieh mit! im Frühling
Kehre wieder bei uns ein.

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by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
3. Winter is coming!
Language: English 
Oh dear, you slender streamlets
[Flowing] through meadow and forest,
Winter is coming, winter is coming,
It shall soon turn you to ice.

Oh dear, you delicate flowers
Upon mountains and in valleys,
Winter is coming, winter is coming,
It shall make all of you wilt.

Oh dear, you poor lad,
Amor, what shall you do?
Winter is coming, winter is coming,
And you have no garment on!

Oh look, yonder there are storks flying,
Lift your little wings,
[Go]1 with them, go with them! in spring
Return to dwell amongst us once more.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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 Evers: "Winter is coming! Go"


This text was added to the website: 2014-07-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 95

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Treue Liebe
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Treue Liebe", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es rauschen die Bäume im Regen,
Die Blätter durchbrauset der Wind,
Die lustigen Vögel haben sich alle,
Sich alle verborgen geschwind.

Doch ein Wandrer zieht seine Strasse,
Als ob er trocken ganz blieb,
Und singt trotz Regen und Stürme:
Juche! mein Schatzerl ist lieb!

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by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
4. Faithful love
Language: English 
The trees are soughing in the rain,
The wind roars through the leaves,
The merry birds have all
Quickly hidden themselves.

But a wanderer travels his pathway
As if he is keeping completely dry,
And despite rain and storms he sings:
Hurray! my love is so dear!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-09
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Immer bei dir
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Immer bei dir", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kalt wehet der Wind, es wirbelt der Schnee,
Vor'm Fester sitzet in einsamem Weh
Ein Vöglein und hänget die Flügel:
"O lass mich ein, in die Stube hinein,
Dann will ich froh und fröhlich sein,
O lass mich ein, o lass mich ein,
Eh' ich erfriere und sterbe!

Und wer ist das Vöglein im kalten Schnee?
Das ist, ach, mein Herze in seinem Weh,
Bang ruft es mit bittendem Laute:
"O lass mich ein, in dein Herze hinein,
Dann will ich froh und fröhlich sein,
O lass mich ein, o lass mich ein,
Eh' ich erfriere und sterbe!["]

Doch kommt der Frühling mit wärmendem Schein,
Fliegt gerne von dannen das Vögelein,
Mein Herz allein, mein Herz allein
Möcht' immer und immer bei dir sein.
Im Sommer und Herbst,
In Winter und Frühling
Möcht' immer, immer bei dir sein.

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by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
5. Always with you
Language: English 
The wind blows coldly, the snow swirls about,
Before the window sits, in lonely pain,
A little bird, its wings drooping:
“Oh let me in, let me into your parlour,
Then I shall be blithe and happy,
Oh let me in, oh let me in,
Before I freeze and die!

And who is the little bird in the cold snow?
It is, ah, my heart in its pain.
Anxiously it calls in pleading accents:
“Oh let me in, let me into your heart,
Then I shall be blithe and happy,
Oh let me in, oh let me in,
Before I freeze and die![”]

But when springtime comes with its warming rays,
The little bird gladly flies off,
My heart alone, my heart alone
Wishes always and forever to remain with you.
In summer and autumn,
In winter and spring,
It wishes always, always to remain with you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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This text was added to the website: 2014-08-02
Line count: 21
Word count: 147

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Zum Abschied
 (Sung text)
by Carl Evers (1819 - 1875), "Zum Abschied", op. 41 (6 Gedichte von Theobald Kerner) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O weine nicht, o freue dich,
Bin ich auch fern von dir,
Ob nah', ob fern -- ich denke dein,
Die Liebe zieht mit mir.

Sie schickt den Traum mir in der Nacht,
Ist mir am Tag Geleit,
Sie flüstert:  Bleibe treu, o Herz,
Bleib' treu in Freud und Leid!

Ja Freud' und Leid ich bleibe treu,
Ich liebe dich allein,
Ich finde ja kein' lieber Lieb,
Wie könnt’ ich untreu seyn!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Theobald Kerner, Stuttgart: Hallberger’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1852, page 127.

by Theobald Kerner (1817 - 1907)
6. In farewell
Language: English 
Oh do not weep, oh be happy,
Even if I am far from you,
Whether near or far -- I think of you,
Love travels along with me.

[Love] send me the dreams of the night,
[Love] is my guide by day,
[Love] whispers:  Remain true, oh heart,
Remain true in joy and sorrow!

[In]1 joy and sorrow I remain true,
I love you alone,
For I could not find a dearer love,
How could I be unfaithful!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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Translated titles:
"Zum Abschied" = "In farewell"
"Zum Abschied (Ständchen)" = "In Farewell (Serenade)"
"Lied im Volkston" = "Song in Folk Style"
"O weine nicht" = "Oh do not weep"
"Abschied" = "Farewell"

1Evers: " Yes"


This text was added to the website: 2014-06-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 78

Translation © by Sharon Krebs