English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 6

by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945)

1. Spröde Locken
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Spröde Locken", op. 6 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published c1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Mädchen hat zwei Locken kraus,
Zwei Locken, denen ich zürne;
Sie springen aus dem Hut heraus
Gar trotzig über der Stirne.
 
Sie wollen sich dem Kamme nicht
Und keinem Streicheln fügen.
Obschon sich sonst die Haare schlicht
Und weich ans Köpfchen schmiegen.
 
So ist auch ihr Gemüthe weich
Und ohne spröden Willen;
Doch hat sie, den kleinen Locken gleich,
Verzweifelt krause Grillen.

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by Michael Albert (1836 - 1893)
1. Recalcitrant curls
Language: English 
My maiden has two curly locks,
Two curls at which I am angry;
They leap forth from under her hat
Quite truculently across her brow.
 
They will not submit to the comb
Nor to any caressing.
Even though her hair otherwise lies smoothly
And softly against her little head.
 
Thus is her nature soft as well
And without a defiant will;
But, like those curls, she has
Hopelessly wayward little fancies.

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: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Es steht wohl mancher Weiser im Land an Weg und Steg
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Es steht wohl mancher Weiser im Land an Weg und Steg", op. 6 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published c1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es steht wohl mancher Weiser
Im Land an Weg und Steg,
Wohl manches Kreuz verwittert,
Im dichten Dorngeheg'.

Bin alle schon gegangen,
Die Wege her und hin,
Weit über Thal und Berge,
Mit wandermüdem Sinn.

Den einen, nur den einen --
Ich liess ihn einst im Glück --
Den Weg zu meinem Frieden . . .
Den find' ich nicht zurück.

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by Luise Elisabeth Bertha Koch (1875 - 1966), as Maidy Koch
2. There must be many a signpost along road and path in the land
Language: English 
There must be many a signpost
Along road and path in the land,
Well many a weathered cross
In the dense thorny thicket.

I have already walked them all,
The paths here and there,
Far over valley and mountain
With a spirit weary of wandering.

One, only one of them --
I left it once in happiness --
The road to my peace . . .
To that one I cannot find my way back.

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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Es steht wohl mancher Weiser im Land an Weg und Steg" = "There must be many a signpost along road and path in the land"
"Irrwege" = "Wrong pathways"



This text was added to the website: 2019-05-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Noch bin ich jung
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Noch bin ich jung", op. 6 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published c1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr. ; also published in the collection Lieder siebenbürgischer Komponisten, Book I
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Noch bin ich jung -- noch will ich leben!
Mein Herz hat Heimweh nach dem Glück --
Ach, einmal noch die Flügel heben
Und in die schöne Welt zurück!
 
Da draußen lacht der Lenz, der holde,
Im Himmelsblau und Waldesgrün!
Der Becher schäumt schäumt im Sonnengolde,
Und tausend duft'ge Blumen blüh'n!
 
Hinaus, hinaus, dem Licht entgegen --
Mich tötet die Gefangenschaft!
Ach, einmal noch die schäumt regen
Im Vollgefühl der Jugendkraft!

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by Helene Tiedemann (18?? - 1907), as Leon Vandersee
3. I am still young
Language: English 
I am still young - I still wish to live!
My heart is homesick for happiness -
Ah, to lift my wings just once more
And [to fly] back to the beautiful world!
 
Outdoors, Spring, the lovely one, is laughing
In the blue of heaven and the green of the forest;
The goblet gleams in the gold of the sun,
And a thousand scented flowers are blooming!
 
Out, out, toward the light -
Imprisonment is killing me!
Ah, to lift my wings just once more
In the full awareness of youthful strength!

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: 2016-11-02
Line count: 12
Word count: 89

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Ich seh's dir an den Augen an
 (Sung text)
by Berta Bock (1857 - 1945), "Ich seh's dir an den Augen an", op. 6 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published c1900 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Fritz Schuberth Jr.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich seh's dir an den Augen an,
Daß Du geweinet hast,
Ist auch die zarte Wimper frei
Von jeder Thränenlast;
 
Ob von dem stolzen Munde auch
Das Wort gleich Perlen rollt,
Und du des Glückes Farben malst
In eitel Sonnengold;
 
Und stolz dein lockig Haupt erhebst,
Als gäb' es keine Last --
Ich seh's dir an den Augen an,
Daß du geweinet hast.

Text Authorship:

  • by Johanna Voigt (1854 - 1939), as Johanna Ambrosius, "Ich seh's dir an den Augen an"

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by Johanna Voigt (1854 - 1939), as Johanna Ambrosius
4. I see by your eyes
Language: English 
I see by your eyes
That you have wept,
Though your delicate lashes are free
Of every burden of tears;
 
Though from your proud lips as well
The words roll like pearls
And you paint the colours of happiness
In pure sun-gold;
 
And proudly lift your curly head
As if there were no such thing as a burden --
I see by your eyes
That you have wept.

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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2016-09-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Sharon Krebs