English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 18

by John Böie (1822 - 1900)

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1. Die Stille  [sung text not yet checked]
by John Böie (1822 - 1900), "Die Stille", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es [weiß]1 und rät es doch Keiner,
Wie mir so wohl ist, so wohl!
Ach, wüßt es nur Einer, nur Einer,
Kein Mensch es sonst wissen [soll]2!

So still ist's nicht draußen im Schnee,
So stumm und verschwiegen sind
Die Sterne nicht in der Höhe,
Als meine Gedanken sind.

Ich [wünscht']3, es wäre schon Morgen,
Da fliegen zwei Lerchen auf,
Die überfliegen einander,
Mein Herz folgt ihrem Lauf.

Ich [wünscht']3, ich wäre ein Vöglein
Und [zöge über das]4 Meer,
Wohl über das Meer und weiter,
Bis daß ich im Himmel wär'!

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Confirmed with Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts und das Marmorbild. Zwei Novellen nebst einem Anhange von Liedern und Romanzen, Berlin, Vereinsbuchhandlung, 1826, pages 215-216. Note: the spelling has been modernized. In the edition cited, "rät" is spelled "räth".

1 Bungert: "weiß es"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Schumann: "sollt'"
3 Becker: "wollt'"
4 Becker: "flöge über's"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. Silence
Language: English 
No one knows or guesses
how glad I am, so glad!
Alas, if only one could know it, just one -
no other soul should know it!

The snow outside is not so quiet -
nor as mute and silent 
are the lofty stars,
compared with my thoughts.

I wish it were morning already;
up would fly two larks,
flying over each other,
and my heart would follow their course.

I wish I were a little bird -
I would fly over the sea,
well across the sea and farther,
until I were in heaven!

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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Translation of title "Die Stille" = "Silence"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Schliesse mir die Augen beide  [sung text not yet checked]
by John Böie (1822 - 1900), "Schliesse mir die Augen beide", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Schließe mir]1 die Augen beide
mit den lieben Händen zu;
geht doch alles, was ich leide,
unter deiner Hand zur Ruh.
Und wie leise sich der Schmerz
Well' [um]2 Welle schlafen [leget]3,
[wie]4 der letzte Schlag sich [reget]5,
füllest du mein ganzes Herz.

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1 Karg-Elert: "Schliess mir du"
2 Wolff: "und"
3 Greger: "legt"
4 Karg-Elert: "wenn"
5 Greger: "regt"

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
2. Close both my eyes
Language: English 
Close both my eyes
with your dear hands;
So everything that I suffer
goes to rest under your hand.
And as silently the pain,
wave by wave, goes to sleep;
as the last blow falls,
you fill my whole heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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: 40

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
3. Um Mitternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by John Böie (1822 - 1900), "Um Mitternacht", op. 18 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Fr. Schuberth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Gelassen]1 stieg die Nacht an's Land,
Lehnt träumend an der Berge Wand,
Ihr Auge sieht die goldne Wage nun 
Der Zeit in gleichen Schalen stille ruhn;
  Und [kecker]3 rauschen die Quellen hervor,
  Sie singen der Mutter, der Nacht, in's Ohr
    Vom Tage,
  Vom heute gewesenen Tage.

Das uralt alte Schlummerlied,
Sie achtet's nicht, sie ist es müd';
Ihr klingt des Himmels Bläue süßer noch,
Der flücht'gen Stunden gleichgeschwung'nes Joch.
  Doch immer behalten die Quellen das Wort,
  Es singen die Wasser im Schlafe noch fort
    Vom Tage, 
  Vom heute gewesenen Tage.

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Confirmed with Eduard Friedrich Mörike, Gesammelte Schriften, Erster Band, G. J. Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung, 1878, page 138.

1 Franz, Wallnöfer: "Bedächtig" (from an earlier version of Mörike's poem)
2 Wallnöfer: "ins"
3 Franz: "kecker nur"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3. At midnight
Language: English 
The night ascends calmly over the land,
leaning dreamily against the wall of the mountain,
its eyes now resting on the golden scales 
of time, in a similar poise of quiet peace;
and boldly murmur the springs,
singing to Mother Night, in her ear,
of the day 
that was today.

To the ancient lullaby
she pays no attention; she is weary.
To her, the blue heaven sounds sweeter,
the curved yoke of fleeing hours.
Yet the springs keep murmuring,
and the water keeps singing in slumber
of the day 
that was today.

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

Translation of title "Um Mitternacht" = "At midnight"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust