English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 4

by Sophie Wolf Baudissin, Gräfin (1821 - 1894)

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1. Vöglein, wohin so schnell?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Sophie Wolf Baudissin, Gräfin (1821 - 1894), "Vöglein, wohin so schnell?", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vöglein, wohin so schnell?
„Nach Norden, nach Norden!
Dort scheint die [Sonne]1 [nun so]2 hell,
Dort ist's nun Frühling [worden]3.“

O Vöglein mit den Flügeln bunt,
Und wenn du kommst zum Lindengrund,
Zum Hause meiner [Lieben]4,
Dann sag' ihr, daß ich Tag und Nacht
Von ihr geträumt, an sie gedacht,
Und daß ich treu geblieben.

Und die Blumen im Thal,
Grüss tausend, tausendmal!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Zutphen, Thieme'sche Buchhandlung, 1873, pages 59-60.

1 Henkel: "Sonn'"
2 Thuille: "so"
3 Franz, Keller, Thuille: "geworden"
4 Franz, Heidingsfeld, Keller: "Liebe"; Thuille: "Liebsten"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. Little bird, where are you going so quickly?
Language: English 
 Little bird, where are you going so quickly?
 "To the north, to the north!
 There the sun is shining now so brightly,
 and there it has already become springtime."
 O little bird with colorful wings,
 when you come to the valley of linden trees,
 to the house of my beloved,
 tell her that day and night
 I dream about her and think about her,
 and that I have remained faithful.
 And to the flowers in the valley,
 greet them a thousand times!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Mein Herz ist wie die dunkle Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Sophie Wolf Baudissin, Gräfin (1821 - 1894), "Mein Herz ist wie die dunkle Nacht", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist wie die dunkle Nacht,
Wenn alle Wipfel rauschen;
Da steigt der Mond in voller Pracht
Aus Wolken sacht --
Und sieh, der Wald verstummt in tiefem Lauschen.

Der Mond, der [helle]1 Mond bist du;
[Aus]2 deiner [Liebesfülle]3
Wirf [einen, einen]4 Blick mir zu 
Voll Himmelsruh --
Und sieh, dies ungestüme Herz wird stille.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Vierzehnte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1849, page 68.

1 Mendelssohn: "lichte"
2 Mendelssohn: "In"
3 Wolfrum: "ganzen Liebesfülle"
4 Lachner, Randhartinger: "einen einz'gen", Wolfrum: "einen, nur einen"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. My heart is like the dark night
Language: English 
My heart is like the dark night,
when all the treetops rustle;
There rises the moon in full splendour
from among clouds softly,
and behold, the forest grows silent in deep listening.

The moon, the bright moon are you:
In your abundance of love
cast a glance to me
full of heavenly peace,
and behold, this unquiet heart becomes still.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2003 by Carl Johengen, (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: 2004-01-26
Line count: 10
Word count: 60

Translation © by Carl Johengen
3. Und wenn die Primel schneeweiss blickt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Sophie Wolf Baudissin, Gräfin (1821 - 1894), "Und wenn die Primel schneeweiss blickt", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Challier & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wenn die Primel schneeweiß blickt
Am Bach, am Bach aus dem Wiesengrund,
Und wenn [vom]1 Baum die Kirschblüth nickt 
Und die Vöglein pfeifen im Wald allstund:
Da flickt der Fischer das Netz in Ruh,
[Denn der]2 See liegt heiter im Sonnenglanz;
Da sucht das Mädel die rothen Schuh,
Und schnürt das Mieder sich eng zum Tanz,
Und denket still,
Ob der Liebste, der Liebste nicht kommen will.

Es klingt die Fiedel, es brummt der Baß,
Der Dorfschulz [sitzet]3 im Schank beim Wein,
Die Tänzer drehn sich ohn' Unterlaß 
An der Lind', an der Lind' im Abendschein.
Und geht's nach Haus' um Mitternacht,
Glühwürmchen trägt das Laternchen vor,
Da [küsset der Bube sein Dirnel]4 sacht,
Und sagt ihr leis' ein [Wörtchen]5 ins Ohr,
Und sie denken beid':
O du [selige fröhliche]6 [Maienzeit.]7

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Berlin, Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1840, page 179. Note: modern German would change the following spellings: "Kirschblüth" -> "Kirschblüt", "rothen" -> "roten". Note: in Schumann's duet, some words are left out of one voice's part but included in the other.

1 Schumann: "am"
2 Brüll: "Der"
3 Brüll, and later editions of Geibel after 1861: "sitzt"
4 Brüll: "küsst der Bub sein Dirndel"
5 Brüll: "Wort"
6 Brüll, and later editions of Geibel after 1861: "fröhliche, selige"
7 Brüll: "Maienzeit. O Maienzeit!"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. Spring
Language: English 
And when the primrose peeks, white as snow,
Out of the meadow beside the brook,
When the cherry blossom nods
And the birds whistle in the forest at all hours:
Then the fisher mends his net in peace,
For the lake rests serenely in the sunshine;
Then the maiden searches for her shoes
And laces her bodice tightly for the dance,
And wonders silently
If her beloved will not come.

The fiddle sounds, the bass booms,
The sheriff sits in the pub drinking wine,
The dancers twirl unceasingly
[By the lime tree, by the lime tree,]1 In the evening glow.
And when they're on their way home at midnight
The fireflies light them on their way with their lanterns;
Then he kisses his girl gently
And whispers a word in her ear,
And they both think [to themselves]:
Oh you blissful, happy Maytime!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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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1 omitted by Schumann


This text was added to the website: 2009-05-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 144

Translation © by Sharon Krebs