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English translations of Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, opus 25

by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936)

1. Wanderschaft
 (Sung text)
by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936), "Wanderschaft", op. 25 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse) no. 1 (1959) [ baritone and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast,
Im Graben liegt noch Schnee;
Das du mir heut' geschrieben hast,
Das Brieflein tat mir weh.

Jetzt schneid' ich einen Stab im Holz;
Ich weiß ein ander Land,
Da sind die Jungfern nicht so stolz
Dem Lieben abgewandt.

Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast,
Kein Brieflein tut mir weh,
Und das du mir geschrieben hast,
Schwimmt draußen auf dem See, 
Schwimmt draußen auf dem Bodensee, 
Ja draußen auf dem See.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Wanderschaft", written 1908, appears in Unterwegs, first published 1911

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
1. Wanderings
Language: English 
The laurel blooms in the forest,
Snow still lies in the [ditch]1;
The letter that you wrote to me today,
[The letter] wounded me.

Now I shall cut a staff in the woods;
I know another land
Where the maidens are not so proudly
Averse to loving.

The laurel blooms in the forest,
No letter wounds me,
And the one you wrote to me,
Floats out there upon the lake,
Floats out there upon Lake Constance,
Yes, out there upon the lake.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Wanderschaft", written 1908, appears in Unterwegs, first published 1911
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translations of title(s):
"Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast" = "The laurel blooms in the forest"
"Der Seidelbast" = "The laurel"
"Wanderschaft" = "Wanderings"

1 Frommlet: "garden"


This text was added to the website: 2018-01-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 83

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Blütenzweig
 (Sung text)
by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936), "Der Blütenzweig", op. 25 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse) no. 2 (1959) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer hin und wider
Strebt der Blütenzweig im Winde,
Immer auf und nieder
Strebt mein Herz gleich einem Kinde
Zwischen hellen und dunklen Tagen,
Zwischen Wollen und Entsagen.

Bis die Blüten sind verweht
Und der Zweig in Früchten steht,
Bis das Herz, der Kindheit satt,
Seine Ruhe hat
Und bekennt: voll Lust und nicht vergebens
War das unruhvolle Spiel des Lebens.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Der Blütenzweig", written 1913

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
2.
Language: English 
Always [back and forth]1
The blossom-sprig strives in the wind,
Always up and down
My heart strives like a child
Between bright and dark days,
Between desire and renunciation.

Until the blossoms have been scattered by the wind
And the branch stands full of fruit,
Until the heart, satiated with childhood,
Has found its rest
And acknowledges: full of joy and not in vain
Was the tumultuous play of life.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Der Blütenzweig", written 1913
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translations of title(s):
"Immer hin und wider" = "Always back and forth"
"Der Blütenzweig" = "The sprig of blossoms"

1 G. Wilhelm: "up and down" (as it is in the third line)

This text was added to the website: 2017-10-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Glück
 (Sung text)
by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936), "Glück", op. 25 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse) no. 3 (1959) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Solang du nach dem Glücke jagst,
Bist du nicht reif zum Glücklichsein
Und wäre alles Liebste dein.

Solang du um Verlornes klagst
Und Ziele hast und rastlos bist,
Weißt du noch nicht, was Friede ist.

Erst wenn du jedem Wunsch entsagst,
Nicht Ziel mehr, noch Begehren kennst,
Das Glück nicht mehr mit Namen nennst,

Dann reicht dir des Geschehens Flut
Nicht mehr ans Herz, und deine Seele ruht.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Glück", written 1907

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 164.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
3. Happiness
Language: English 
If luck you chase, you have not grown
enough for happiness to stay,
not even if you get your way.

If, what you lost, you still bemoan,
and grasp at tasks, and dash and dart,
you have not known true peace at heart.

But if no wishes are your own,
and you don't try to win the game,
and Lady Luck is just a name,

then tides of life won't reach your breast --
and all your strife and all your soul will rest.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Walter A. Aue, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Walter A. Aue.  Contact: waue (AT) dal (DOT) ca

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Glück", written 1907
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-03-26
Line count: 11
Word count: 83

Translation © by Walter A. Aue
4. Schmetterling
 (Sung text)
by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936), "Schmetterling", op. 25 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse) no. 4 (1959) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Flügelt ein kleiner blauer
Falter vom Wind geweht,
Ein perlmutterner Schauer,
Glitzert, flimmert, vergeht.
So mit Augenblicksblinken,
So im Vorüberwehn
Sah ich das Glück mir winken,
Glitzern, flimmern, vergehn.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Blauer Schmetterling", written 1927

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
4. Butterfly
Language: English 
A little blue butterfly is
Sailing, blown by the wind,
A mother-of-pearl shiver,
Sparkles, shimmers, vanishes.
Thus with momentary gleaming,
Thus in wafting past,
I saw happiness beckoning me,
Sparkling, shimmering, [vanishing]1.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Blauer Schmetterling", written 1927
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translations of title(s):
"Blaue Falter" = "Blue butterfly"
"Schmetterling" = "Butterfly"
"Blauer Schmetterling" = "Blue butterfly"

1 Schoeck: "fading away"


This text was added to the website: 2017-02-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Die Kindheit
 (Sung text)
by Albert Gorter (1862 - 1936), "Die Kindheit", op. 25 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse) no. 5 (1959) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist, mein fernes Tal,
Verzaubert und versunken. 
Oft hast du mir in Not und Qual
Empor aus deinem Schattenland gewunken
Und deine Mädchenaugen aufgetan,
Daß ich entzückt in kurzem Wahn
Mich ganz zu dir zurück verlor. 

O dunkles Tor, 
O dunkle Todesstunde, 
Komm du heran, daß ich gesunde 
Und daß aus dieses Lebens Leere
Ich heim zu meinen Träumen kehre!

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Die Kindheit", written 1912

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
5. Childhood
Language: English 
[You]1 are, my [distant]2 valley,
Enchanted and rapt.
In affliction and agony you have often
Waved to me from your shadowland
And opened your maiden-eyes,
So that, enraptured in a short illusion,
I completely lost myself back to you.

Oh dark gateway,
Oh dark hour of death,
Approach that I might be healed
And that from out of this life’s emptiness
I may return home to my dreams!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Die Kindheit", written 1912
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translations of title(s):
"Die Kindheit" = "Childhood"
"Kindheit" = "Childhood"

1 Schwarz: "Oh childhood, you"
2 Stier: "quiet"


This text was added to the website: 2017-10-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
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