English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 15

by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978)

1. Dezember
 (Sung text)
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Dezember", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1929) [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Verlag von Ries und Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das sonnenlose dämmern dieser Tage
Ist voll geheimer Güte. Alles Weh, 
Das Licht und Wärme scheut, und alle Klage 
Wird nebelzart, frostkühl und lind wie Schnee.

Wie aufgelockert sind die harten Herzen,
Und auf dem allerärmsten Angesicht
Liegt es wie Glanz von blauen Weihnachtskerzen.
Ja, selbst das tiefste Dunkel träumt von Licht!

Und keiner ist, der sich so sehr verloren, 
Daß er diesen Tagen nicht erwacht,
In jedem Herzen wird der Christ geboren,
Und jeder feiert seine heilige Nacht.

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by Wally Kositschek-Bromek
1. December
Language: English 
The sunless dawning of these days
Is full of secret benevolence. All woe
That shuns light and warmth, and all lamenting
Becomes delicate as mist, frost-cool and mild as snow.

The hard hearts are as if loosened,
And upon the poorest of all faces
There lies a radiance as of blue Christmas candles.
Yes, even the deepest darkness dreams of light!

And there is no one who has so lost himself
That he does not waken to these days,
Christ is born in every heart,
And everyone celebrates his holy night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 2024-11-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 91

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Albumblatt
 (Sung text)
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Albumblatt", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Verlag von Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist so fremd, du bist so bleich.
Nur manchmal glüht auf deinen Wangen
ein hoffnungsloses Heimverlangen
nach dem verlornen Rosenreich.

Dann sehnt dein Auge, tief und klar,
aus allen Müssen, allen Mühen
ins Land, wo nichts als stilles Blühen
die Arbeit deiner Hände war.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. You are so different
Language: English 
You are so different, you are so pale.
Only now and then, there glows upon your cheeks 
A hopeless longing for home,
For the lost realm of roses.

Then your eyes, deep and clear, yearn to be
Released from all compulsion, all toil,
[Released] into the land where the labour of your hands 
Was nothing but a quiet blossoming.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 2024-12-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 59

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Die Nacht
 (Sung text)
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Die Nacht", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3 (1929) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Geh' leise. Alle Felder schlafen, 
Nur Winde wachen, Wälder schlafen,
Wehmütig ist die Nacht im Ort.
Was willst du noch? Geh' leise fort.
Ein großer Schlaf liegt auf der Welt:
Nichts bist Du mehr, Dein Schritt verfällt.

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by Ernst Feigl (1887 - 1957)
3. The night
Language: English 
Walk softly. All the fields are sleeping,
Only [breaths]1 are still awake, the woods are sleeping,
The night is [pensive in]2 the town.
What do you still want here? Depart quietly.
A great sleep lies upon the world:
You are nothing anymore, your step recedes.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 titles:
"Die Nacht" = "The night"
"Geh' leise" = "Walk softly"
"Nacht" = "Night"

1 Grosz, Móry: "winds"
2 Grosz: "solitary at"


This text was added to the website: 2024-12-03
Line count: 6
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Lieb'
 (Sung text)
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Lieb'", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4 (1929) [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Verlag von Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sterb' ich einst, Liebster, 
  So sollst du kein Trauerlied mir weih'n.
Setz nicht Zypressen und Rosen 
  Auf meinem Grabe ein,
Dort wachse Gras, betaut sei's 
  Bei nächt'ger Finsternis,
Und wenn du willst, gedenke, 
  Und wenn du willst, vergiß!

Ich seh' dann keinen Schatten, 
  Ich fühl' den Regen nicht,
Höre keine Nachtigall mehr, 
  Wenn Leid das Herz ihr bricht,
Und träumend in dem Zwielicht, 
  Wo Licht und Dunkel wich,
Werd' ich vielleicht gedenken,
  Vielleicht vergesse ich.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. Love
Language: English 
When I die one day, beloved,
  You are not to dedicate any sorrowful song to me.
Do not plant cypresses and roses
  Upon my grave,
Grass is to grow there, bedewed
  With nighttime darkness,
And if you wish, remember,
  And if you wish, forget!

I shall then see no shadows,
  I shall not feel the rain,
No longer hear the nightingale,
  When sorrow breaks its heart,
And dreaming in the twilight,
  Where light and darkness vanished,
Perhaps I shall remember,
  Perhaps I shall forget.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 2024-12-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 84

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Klage
 (Sung text)
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Klage", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5 (1929) [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Verlag von Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  In diesen welken Tagen,
wo Alles bald zu Ende ist,
sturmzerfetzte Sonnenblumen
  über dunkle Zäune ragen,

     Wolken jagen
und den Boden flammenfarbne
   Blätterstürze schlagen:

da müssen wir nun tragen,
was wir uns mußten sagen

  an diesen welken Tagen.

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by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920)
5. Lament
Language: English 
  In these wilted days,
when everything is soon at an end,
[when] sunflowers, tattered by storms
  loom over dark fences,

     clouds race
and the ground is being beaten
   by flame-coloured leaf falls:

thus we now must bear
that which we had to say to each other

  [in]1 these wilted days.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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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1 Móry: "on"


This text was added to the website: 2024-11-30
Line count: 10
Word count: 50

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Berückung  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ján Móry (1892 - 1978), "Berückung", op. 15 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1929) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und du kamest in mein Haus,
kamst mit deinen schwarzen Blicken;
sah ich ferne Palmen nicken
und du gabst mir deinen Strauß.

Gabst die zitternden Narzissen,
die wir in der Wildnis pflückten;
deine schwarzen Locken schmückten
meines Diwans rote Kissen.

Kehre wieder in mein Haus,
laß die wilden Blumen blühen!
Unsre junge Lippen glühen,
gieb mir, gieb mir deinen Strauß!

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Confirmed with Richard Dehmel. Eine Wahl aus seinem Werk, Herausgegeben und eingeleitet von Ida Dehmel, Berlin: Deutsche Buchgemeinschaft, [1929], page 86.


by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920)
6. Entrancement
Language: English 
And you came into my house,
came with your black glances;
I saw the distant palms nodding
and you gave me your bouquet.

Gave me the trembling narcissi
that we had picked in the wilderness;
your black curls adorned
the red pillows of my divan.

Return again into my house,
let the wild flowers blossom!
our young lips burn,
give me, give me your bouquet!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 titles:
"Berückung" = "Entrancement"
"Werbung" = "Courtship"



This text was added to the website: 2024-12-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Sharon Krebs