English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 3

by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828)

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1. Schäfers Klagelied
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Schäfers Klagelied", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 121 (1814), published 1821, first performed 1819 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Da droben auf jenem Berge,
Da steh' ich tausendmal,
An meinem Stabe hingebogen
Und sehe hinab in das Thal.

Dann folg' ich der weidenden Herde,
Mein Hündchen bewahret mir sie.
Ich bin herunter gekommen
Und weiß doch selber nicht wie.

Da steht von schönen Blumen
Da steht die ganze Wiese so voll.
Ich breche sie, ohne zu wissen,
Wem ich sie geben soll.

Und Regen, Sturm und Gewitter
Verpass' ich unter dem Baum.
Die Thüre dort bleibet verschlossen;
Und alles ist leider ein Traum.

Es stehet ein Regenbogen
Wohl über jenem Haus!
Sie aber ist fortgezogen,
Gar weit in das Land hinaus.

Hinaus in das Land und weiter,
Vielleicht gar über die See.
Vorüber, ihr Schafe, nur vorüber!
Dem Schäfer ist gar so weh.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. High upon that mountain
Language: English 
High upon that mountain,
I have stood a thousand times,
bowed over my staff
and gazing down into the valley.

I have followed my grazing flock,
my hound standing guard for me.
I have come down somehow
and I do not myself know how.

Full of lovely flowers stands
the whole meadow.
I pick them without knowing
whom I should give them to.

And rain, storm and thunder -
beneath the tree I wait for it to pass.
The door there remains closed,
for all is unfortunately a dream.

There stands a rainbow
arching over that house!
But she has gone,
and far away to distant reaches.

To distant reaches and further,
perhaps even across the sea.
It's all over, my sheep, it is simply all over!
It is such woe for your shepherd.

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: 24
Word count: 133

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Meeres Stille
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Meeres Stille", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, D 216 (1815), published 1821 [ voice and piano ], second version
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tiefe Stille herrscht im Wasser,
Ohne Regung ruht das Meer,
Und bekümmert sieht der Schiffer
Glatte Fläche rings umher.
Keine Luft von keiner Seite!
Todesstille fürchterlich!
In der ungeheuern Weite
Reget keine Welle sich.

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Note: The poem's title in the first edition (Schiller's Musenalmanach 1796) is "Meeresstille", from the second edition on (1800) it is "Meeres Stille".

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Deep stillness reigns on the water
Language: English 
Deep stillness reigns on the water;
motionless, the sea rests,
and the sailor gazes about with alarm
at the smooth flatness all around.

No breeze from any side!
It is fearfully, deathly still!
In the enormous expanse
not one wave stirs.

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.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Heidenröslein
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Heidenröslein", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, D 257 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihr doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt' es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

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First published in a different version by Johann Gottfried Herder in 1772 with the title "Fabelliedchen", and again in 1779 with the title "Röschen auf der Heide" (see below).

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Rose blossom on the heath
Language: English 
Passing lad a rose blossom spied,
Blossom on the heath growing,
'Twas so fair and of youthful pride,
Raced he fast to be near its side,
Saw it with joy o'erflowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Said the lad: I shall pick thee,
Blossom on the heath growing!
Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee,
That thou shalt ever think of me,
And I'll not be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

And the lusty lad did pick
The blossom on the heath growing;
Blossom, in defense, did prick,
'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick,
Had to be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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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Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 115

Translation © by Walter Meyer
4. Jägers Abendlied
 (Sung text)
by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Jägers Abendlied", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, D 368 (1816), published 1821, stanzas 1,2,4 [ voice and piano ], second setting
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Felde schleich' ich still und wild,
Gespannt mein Feuerrohr.
Da schwebt so licht dein liebes Bild
Dein süßes Bild mir vor.

Du wandelst jetzt wohl still und mild
Durch Feld und liebes Thal,
Und ach mein schnell verrauschend Bild
Stellt sich dir's nicht einmal?

 ... 

Mir ist es, denk' ich nur an dich,
Als in den Mond zu sehn;
Ein stiller Friede kommt auf mich,
Weiß nicht wie mir geschehn.

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Note: the poem was published first anonymously in Christoph Martin Wieland's Der Teutsche Merkur vom Jahr 1776. Erstes Vierteljahr. Weimar, pages 8-9, with the title Jägers Nachtlied, see below.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. In the fields/forests I creep, silent and wild
Language: English 
 In the fields I creep, silent and wild,
 my gun cocked.
 There floats so lightly your dear image,
 your sweet image before me.

 You wander now so mute and gentle
 through field and dear valley;
 and ah! my swiftly passing image,
 does it not once appear before you?

[ ... ]

 If I only think of you, it seems to me
 that I'm looking at the moon:
 a still peace comes over me,
 and I do not know how it happens.

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.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 104

Translation © by Emily Ezust