English translations of Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Harmonium (oder Pianoforte), opus 27

by Carl Schmeidler

1. Wand'rers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Schmeidler , "Wand'rers Nachtlied", op. 27 no. 1, published 1897 [ soprano or tenor and harmonium or piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Da die Stunde kam, dass ich Abschied nahm  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Schmeidler , "Da die Stunde kam, dass ich Abschied nahm", op. 27 no. 2, published 1897 [ soprano or tenor and harmonium or piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Da die Stunde kam, [daß]1 ich Abschied nahm,
  Sah ich nicht den wunderschönen Mai:
Hab' nur eins gewußt, als ich wandern mußt',
  Daß von dir, von dir ich ferne sei.

Sang und Blüthenduft [schweben]2 durch die Luft,
  Doch an mir [flog]3 alle Lust vorbei:
Hab nur eins gewußt, als ich wandern mußt',
  Daß von dir, von dir ich ferne sei.

Nun ich wiederkehr', fühl' ich nimmermehr,
  [Daß]4 die Geißel schon der Winter schwingt,
Denn ich weiß es ja, daß die Stunde nah,
  Die zu dir, zu dir mich wiederbringt.

Wenn mich wild umziehn Sturmes Melodien,
  Wie ein Maisang mir die Luft erklingt,
Denn ich weiß es ja, daß die Stunde nah,
  Die zu dir, zu dir mich wiederbringt.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Wilhelm Osterwald, Dritte umgearbeitete und vermehrte Auflage, Leipzig, Verlag von F. G. C. Leuckart (Constantin Sander), 1873, no title, page 109. In later editions, the poem was given the title "Wiederkehr"

1 Dresel: "Als"
2 Franz: "schwebten"
3 Franz: "zog"
4 Franz: "Ob"

by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887)
2. When the hour came that I took farewell
Language: English 
When the hour came [that]1 I took farewell,
  I did not see the wondrously beautiful May:
I knew only one thing when I had to go wandering,
  That I would be far away from you, from you.

Singing and blossom-scent [waft]2 through the air,
  But all the beauty passed me [in swift flight]3:
I knew only one thing, when I had to go wandering,
  That I would be far away from you, from you.

Now that I am returning, I nevermore feel
  [That]4 winter is already brandishing its whip,
For I know that the hour is near
  That brings me back to you, to you.

When the melodies of the storm circle me wildly,
  The air resounds like a song in Maytime,
For I know that the hour is near
  That brings me back to you, to you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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:
"Da die Stunde kam" = "When the hour came"
"Da die Stunde kam, dass ich Abschied nahm" = "When the hour came that I took farewell"
"Lied im Volkston" = "Song in a folk-like manner"
"Wiederkehr" = "Return"

1 Dresel: "when"
2 Franz: "wafted"
3 Franz: "by"
4 Franz: "though"


This text was added to the website: 2026-04-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 142

Translation © by Sharon Krebs