English translations of Vier Lieder für tiefe Stimme, opus 7

Ein Schwert, das schneidet, ein Falke, der fängt,
Ein Roß, dran die Sporen zu sparen,
Ein Saitenspiel über die Schulter gehängt,
So will ich die Lande durchfahren.
So ziehe ich fürbaß mit Sang und Klang
Den Berg hinüber, die Straße entlang
Und lasse beim Reiten und Reisen
Die Wege vom Winde mir weisen.

Ich suche mit Augen ein Königreich,
Das liegt mir verlangend im Sinne,
Ich schlage mich durch mit des Schwertes Streich
Bis hin zu der Königin Minne.
Und ist sie zu Hause, und finde ich sie,
So beug' ich vor ihrem Throne das Knie
Und will mich auf Tod und Leben
Getreu ihrem Dienste ergeben.

Mein Herz ist muthig, mein Arm gelenk,
Zum Ritter muß sie mich schlagen,
Ich werde ihr Marschalk, ihr Truchseß, ihr Schenk,
Stets will ihre Farben ich tragen.
Ich will für sie streiten zuvorderst im Heer
Und will für sie brechen manch mannlichen Speer,
Auf daß ich den Dank mir gewinne
Zu Ehren und Ruhm der Frau Minne.

A sword that cuts, a falcon that catches,
A horse that does not need any spurring,
A stringed instrument hung over my shoulder,
That is how I would travel through the lands.
Thus I pass on my way with singing and resounding,
Over the mountain, along the road,
And as I ride and travel I let
The wind show me the way.

With my eyes a seek a kingdom,
Which lives yearningly in my mind,
I fight my way through with a strike of the sword
Until I reach the Queen of Courtly Love.
And if she’s at home, and if I find her,
I will bend my knee before her throne
And in life and death will faithfully
Devote myself to her service.

My heart is courageous, my arm is supple,
She must make me a knight,
I become her marshal, her steward, her butler,
I will always wear her colours.
I will fight for her at the head of the army
And for her I will break many a manly spear,
So that I win [her] gratitude,
To the honour and fame of Courtly Love.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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 Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), no title, appears in Tannhäuser: ein Minnesang, first published 1887
  • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translated titles:
"Ein Schwert, das schneidet" = "A sword that cuts"
"Ein Schwert, das schneidet, ein Falke, der fängt" = "A sword that cuts, a falcon that catches"
"Lied des Tannhäuser" = "Song of Tannhäuser"
"Tannhäuser am Minnehofe zu Avellenz" = "Tannhäuser at the Court of Love at Avellenz"
"Zu Ehren und Ruhm der Frau Minne" = "In honour and praise of Madame Love"

This text was added to the website: 2014-09-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 187

 Sie lag so blaß, sie lag so krank, 
Ich hob sie zitternd auf; 
Sie neigt' an meine Brust ihr Haupt, 
Ich weinte still darauf. 

Sie drückte lächelnd mir die Hand, 
Sie sah so treu mich an; 
Sie küßte sanft die Thräne weg, 
Die mir vom Auge rann.  

Es war ihr letzter Händedruck, 
Es war ihr letzter Blick, 
Es war ihr letzter Liebeskuß  --  
Es war mein letztes Glück. 

She lay there so pale, she lay there so ill,
Trembling, I lifted her;
She inclined her head upon my breast,
I wept over it silently.

Smiling, she pressed my hand,
She looked at me so devotedly;
Softly she kissed away the tears
That ran from my eyes.

It was the last time she pressed my hand,
It was the last time she gazed at me,
It was her last loving kiss --
It was my last happiness.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Karl Christian Tenner (1791 - 1866), "Letztes Glück", appears in Gedichte, in Natur und Liebe, first published <<1871
  • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

This text was added to the website: 2020-09-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 77

Ich bin auf allen Wegen 
Gefahren durch's deutsche Land, 
Vor Straßburg bin ich gelegen, 
Den Wälschen bin ich bekannt. 

Und ward doch in allen Zeiten 
Und Landen Keiner gewahr, 
Die sich mit dir dürft' streiten 
Um Wänglein, Aug' und Haar. 

Was wollt' ich nicht Alles wagen 
Um solche Beute gern -- 
Auf Handen möcht' ich dich tragen . . .
Zu Frundsberg, meinem Herrn. 

I travelled on all the roads
Through the German land,
I camped outside of Strasbourg,
I am known to the Italians.

And yet at no time and in no land
Did I come across a woman
Who could compete with you
In terms of cheeks, eyes, and hair.

What would I not dare
Gladly for such a booty --
I would like to carry you in my hands . . .
To Frundberg, my lord.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Karl Stieler (1842 - 1885), "In Augsburgs Gassen", appears in Hochland-Lieder, in 6. Landsknechtlieder, no. 4
  • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of title(s):
"In Augsburgs Gassen" = "In the streets of Augsburg"
"Landsknechtslied" = "Song of the foot-soldier"

Translator's note to stanza 3, line 3: It is impossible to render the word play in this line in English. "To carry someone in your hands (jemand in Händen tragen)" means to fulfill their every wish (to wait on them hand and foot). Stieler then uses the non-idiomatic meaning of "carrying someone in your hands” when the protagonist speaks of bringing home such a booty to his liege lord.

This text was added to the website: 2020-09-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Und gestern Noth und heute Wein
Das ist's, was mir gefällt;
Und morgen ein Roß, ein schnelles Roß,
Zu reiten in die Welt.

Vergang'nes Leid ist kaum ein Leid,
Und süß ist Jubel im Haus,
Und dazu ein Blick, ein heller Blick
In lust'ge Zeit hinaus.

Die Welt ist jetzt so frühlingsgrün
Und hat der Blumen so viel,
Hat Mägdlein schön wohl nah' und fern,
Und klingend Saitenspiel.

Und bist du nur der rechte Mann,
Und greifest fröhlich drein,
So Ros' als Maid, so Lieb' als Lied
Ist Alles, Alles dein.

Drum gestern Noth und heute Wein,
Das ist's, was mir gefällt,
Und morgen zu Roß, wohl hoch zu Roß
Reit' ich in alle Welt.

And yesterday misery, and today wine,
That is what pleases me;
And tomorrow a steed, a swift steed
With which to ride out into the world.

Past sorrow is hardly sorrow,
And rejoicing in the house is sweet,
And with that a glance, a bright glance
Out into merry times.

The world is now so spring-green 
And has so many flowers,
Has lovely maidens both near and far,
And a ringing stringed instrument.

And if you are only a right man
And grasp the nettle joyfully,
Then rose and maiden, then love and song
Are all, all yours.

Therefore yesterday misery, and today wine,
That is what pleases me;
And tomorrow on horseback, high on horseback
I shall ride out into the wide world.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 35
  • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of title(s):
"Reiterlied" = "Song of the rider"
"Und gestern Noth und heute Wein " = "And yesterday misery, and today wine"
"Und gestern Not und heute Wein" = "And yesterday misery, and today wine"
"Zu Ross" = "On horseback"

This text was added to the website: 2020-09-27
Line count: 20
Word count: 124