English translations of Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 5

by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945)

1. Vagantenliedchen
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Vagantenliedchen", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blond Köpfchen rechts – Schwarzköpfchen
Schwarz Köpfchen links -
Wen nun zuerst soll ich küssen?
Weiß nicht, wer süßer, wer reizender ist -
Will es auch gar nicht wissen.
 
Wenn dich mit ihrem wonnigen Duft
Rose und Lilie entzücken -
Fragst du wohl lang, wer die schön're sei?
Beide wirst du sie pflücken!
 
Blond Köpfchen rechts – Schwarzköpfchen
Schwarz Köpfchen links -
Wen nun zuerst soll ich küssen?
Weiß nicht, wer süßer, wer reizender ist -
Will es auch gar nicht wissen!

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by Georg Bötticher (1849 - 1918)
1. Song of a tramp
Language: English 
A little blonde on the right - a little brunette on the left -
Now whom shall I kiss first?
I do not know which is sweeter, more entrancing -
I don’t even want to know.
 
When with their blissful scents
Rose and lily enrapture you -
Do you stand and ponder which of them is more beautiful?
You pick both of them!
 
A little blonde on the right - a little brunette on the left -
Now whom shall I kiss first?
I do not know which is sweeter, more entrancing -
I don’t even want to know.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-09-17
Line count: 12
Word count: 92

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Im Sommer
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Im Sommer", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blau liegt der See und die Ufer erglänzen,
Vor uns im Schilfe schaukelt der Kahn;
Laß uns die Stirne mit Rosen bekränzen,
Wie einst die glücklichen Alten gethan!
 
Löse den schwankenden Nachen vom Taue,
Daß er uns trage bei günstigem Wind
Fort von den Menschen, weithin in’s Blaue,
Wo die Inseln der Seligen sind!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( A. St. ) , "Im Sommer"

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. In summertime
Language: English 
The lake rests in blueness and the shorelines glow,
Before us in the reeds the boat is rocking;
Let us adorn our brows with wreaths of roses,
As once the happy ancients did!
 
Loosen the swaying barque from the rope,
So that before a favourable wind it may carry us
Away from people, far off into the blue distance,
Where the islands of the blessed are!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-09-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 66

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Botschaft
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Botschaft", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schwinge dich, liebes Schwälbchen,
  Zum alten Giebelhaus,
Wo früh das blonde Gretel
  Verstohlen guckt heraus!
 
Und sag' ihr frohe Kunde,
   Doch sag' es nicht zu laut:
Bald blüht die grüne Myrthe,
   Und Gretel heißt die Braut!

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Confirmed with Fliegende Blätter, 111. Band (1899), Nro. 2824, page 123


by Justus Friedrich Reinhard Spitzner (1863 - 1922), as Reinhard Volker
3. Message
Language: English 
Arise and fly, dear little swallow,
  To the old gabled house,
Where, early in the morning, blonde Gretel
  Peeks out surreptitiously!
 
And bring her glad tidings,
  But do not utter them too loudly:
Soon the green myrtle shall bloom,
  And the bride’s name shall be Gretel!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-11-25
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Mahnung
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Mahnung", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sorgsam mußt dein Glück du hüten,
Trag' es nicht der Welt zur Schau;
Für die zarten Herzensblüthen
Ist die Welt zu kalt, zu rauh.
 
Jeder, der noch Blumen streute,
Daß die Welt sich dran entzückt,
Sah sie bald -- des Sturmes Beute --
Todtgetreten und zerpflückt.
 
Glück und Kranz sind leicht zerrissen --
Weißt du nicht, wie Menschen sind?
Keiner, keiner darf es wissen,
Daß du glücklich bist, mein Kind!

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Confirmed with Fliegende Blätter, 106. Band (1897), Nro. 2699, page 156


by F. Dersens
4. Admonition
Language: English 
You must guard your joy with care,
Do not put it on display for the world;
For the heart’s delicate blossoms,
The world is too cold, too coarse.
 
Everyone who has ever strewn flowers
In order that the world might rejoice therein,
Soon saw them -- the storm’s spoils --
Trampled to death and plucked to pieces.
 
Joy and wreaths are easily torn --
Do you not know what people are like?
No one, no one must know
That you are happy, my child!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-09-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Ich weiss einen Namen, den rauschen die Tannen
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Ich weiss einen Namen, den rauschen die Tannen", op. 5 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich weiss einen Namen den rauschen die Tannen,
Den flötet die Amsel, murmelt der Bach.
Den tragen die Winde auf Flügeln von dannen,
Ich lausche, ich hör' ihn und flüstre ihn nach.

Und wollt' ihr die wonnigen Laute erfahren,
So eilet zur Amsel, zum Bächlein hinaus,
Doch mögen sie nimmer das Wort offenbaren,
So fraget den Lenzwind, ich plaudre nichts aus!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. I know a name that the fir trees sough
Language: English 
I know a name that the fir trees sough,
That the blackbird flutes, that the brook murmurs.
On wings the winds carry it away,
I listen, I hear it, and repeat it in a whisper.

And if you wish to discover the blissful sounds,
Then hasten out to the blackbird, to the brook,
But if they do not ever reveal the word,
Then ask the spring-wind, I shall divulge nothing!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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: 

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This text was added to the website: 2019-05-08
Line count: 8
Word count: 70

Translation © by Sharon Krebs