English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 5

by C. Adolph Oberdörffer

1. Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Adolph Oberdörffer , "Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß", op. 5 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1874 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum sind [denn]1 die Rosen so blaß?
O sprich mein Lieb warum?
Warum sind denn im grünen Gras
Die blauen Veilchen so stumm?

Warum singt denn mit so kläglichem Laut,
Die Lerche in der Luft?
Warum steigt denn aus dem Balsamkraut
Verwelkter Blütenduft?

Warum scheint denn die Sonn' auf die Au,
So kalt und verdrießlich herab?
Warum ist denn die Erde so grau,
Und öde wie ein Grab?

Warum bin ich selbst so krank und so trüb?
Mein liebes Liebchen sprich
O sprich mein herzallerliebstes Lieb,
Warum verließest du mich?

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 129.

1 Zenger: "doch"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Why are the roses so pale?
Language: English 
 Why are the roses so pale?
 o speak, my love, why?
 Why in the green grass
 are the blue violets so silent?
 
 Why with such a lamenting voice
 does the lark sing in the sky?
 Why from the balsam weed does there rise
 the scent of wilting blossoms?
 
 Why does the sun shine down on the meadow,
 so coldly and morosely?
 Why is the earth so gray
 and desolate like a grave?
 
 Why am I myself so ill and dull?
 My lovely darling speak,
 O speak, my heart's most beloved love,
 why have you abandoned me?

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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Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. O wär mein Lieb  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Adolph Oberdörffer , "O wär mein Lieb", op. 5 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1874 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O, wär' mein Lieb' die rote Ros',
Die auf des Schlosses [Mauer]1 glüht!
O, wär' ich selbst der Tropfen Thau,
Den man im Kelch der Rose sieht!

An [ihrer Brust die ganze Nacht]2
Läg' ich, und schwelgt' in trunkner Lust;
Bis Morgens, [wo]3 der Tag erwacht,
Läg' ich an ihrer süßen Brust.

O, wär' mein Lieb ein Holderstrauch,
Wie der, voll Blumen jeder Ast!
O, wär' ich selbst ein Vögelein!
Auf seinen Zweigen hielt' ich Rast.

Wie wollt' ich trauern, säh' ich ihn
Entblättern [des Novembers Wehn]4;
Wie singen, sähe [blüh'nd]5 und grün
Ich wieder ihn im Lenze stehn!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Ferdinand Freiligrath, Siebente (der Miniatur-Ausgabe zweite) Auflage, Stuttgart und Tübingen, J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1844, page 438.

Note: Freiligrath has divided his translation into four stanzas, where Burns' original is usually published in two. He has also rearranged the stanzas, so Burns' stanza 1 corresponds to stanzas 3 and 4 of Freiligrath.

1 Maier: "Mauern"
2 Maier: "ihrem Busen immerdar"
3 Maier: "wenn"
4 Brandeis: "von Herbst und Winters Weh'n"; Tomášek: "durch des Herbstes Wehn"
5 Tomášek: "schmuck"

by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
2.
Language: English 
Oh, were my love the red rose
That glows upon the castle's wall!
Oh, were I myself the drop of dew
That one sees in the calyx of the rose!

Upon her breast the whole night long
I would lie and revel in intoxicated joy;
Until morning, when the day awakens,
I would lie upon her sweet breast.

Oh, were my love a juniper bush,
Like that one, every branch full of blossoms!
Oh, were I myself a little bird!
Upon its branches I would rest.

How I would sorrow if I saw it
Being stripped of leaves by the blowing of [November]1;
How would I sing, when once more in springtime
I saw it standing [in bloom]2 and green!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 title(s):
"Liebeswunsch" = "Love's wish"
"Mein Lieb" = "My love"
"O wär mein Lieb" = "Oh were my love"
"O wär' mein Lieb' die Rose roth" = "Oh were my love the rose so red"
"O wär' mein Lieb' die rote Ros'" = "Oh were my love the red rose"
"O, wär' mein Lieb' die rothe Ros'" = "Oh, were my love the red rose"
"O wär mein Lieb ein Holderstrauch" = "Oh were my love a juniper"

1 Brandeis: "autumn and winter"; Tomášek: "autumn"
2 Tomášek: "trim"


This text was added to the website: 2022-08-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 122

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Liebesfrühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by C. Adolph Oberdörffer , "Der Liebesfrühling", op. 5 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1874 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab' in mich gesogen
Den Frühling treu und lieb,
Daß er, der Welt entflogen,
Hier in der Brust mir blieb.

Hier sind die blauen Lüfte,
Hier sind die grünen Aun,
Die Blumen hier, die Düfte,
Der blühnde Rosenzaun.

[Und hier am Busen lehnet
Mit süßem Liebesach,
Die Liebste, die sich sehnet
Den Frühlingswonnen nach.]1

Sie lehnt sich an, zu lauschen,
Und hört in stiller Lust
Die Frühlingsströme rauschen
In ihres Dichters Brust.

Da quellen auf die Lieder
Und strömen über sie
Den [vollen]2 Frühling nieder,
Den mir der Gott verlieh.

Und wie sie, davon trunken,
Umblicket rings im Raum,
[Blüht auch]3 von ihren Funken
Die Welt, ein Frühlingstraum.

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Confirmed with Gesammelte Gedichte von Friedrich Rückert. Mit Königl. Würtembergischem Privilegium gegen den Nachdruck. Erlangen Verlag von Carl Heyder. 1834, page 191; and with Urania. Taschenbuch auf das Jahr 1823. Neue Folge, fünfter Jahrgang. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. 1823, pages 301-302.

1 Rückert (Urania 1823):
Die Liebste, die sich sehnet,
Den Frühlingswonnen nach,
An meinem Busen lehnet
Mit süßem Liebesach.
2 Schumann: "vollsten"
3 Rückert (Urania 1823): "Erblüht"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. I have drunk in
Language: English 
 I have drunk in
 the Spring true and dear,
 so that, having fled the earth,
 it will remain here in my breast.
 
 Here are the blue skies,
 here are the green meadows,
 the flowers here, the breezes,
 the blooming rose fence.
 
 And here on my bosom leans
 with a sweet love sigh,
 my sweetheart, who longs
 for the bliss of spring.
 
 She leans on me to listen
 and hears with quiet joy
 the murmuring of spring streams
 in her poet's breast.
 
 There spring forth songs
 and they stream over her,
 full of the spring
 that God has conferred on me.
 
 And as she, intoxicated by it all,
 gazes around in space,
 the world blooms also from her sparks:
 a dream of Spring.

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: 24
Word count: 123

Translation © by Emily Ezust