English translations of Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 1

by Emmy Schlieffen

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1. Wanderers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emmy Schlieffen , "Wanderers Nachtlied", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der du [von dem Himmel]1 bist,
[Alles Leid]2 und Schmerzen [stillest]3,
Den, der doppelt elend ist,
Doppelt mit [Erquickung füllest]4,
Ach ich bin des Treibens müde!
[Was soll all der Schmerz und Lust?]5
Süßer Friede,
Komm, ach komm in meine Brust!

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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.

First published in Christliches Magazin Herausgegeben von Joh. Konrad Pfenninger, Dritter Band, 1780, page 243, with the musical setting by Ph. Ch. Kayser.

Notes
Line 1: Backer-Grøndahl’s score has a comma after the first word (likely a typo)
Line 8: Backer-Grøndahl's score has a typo in word 5 ("meiner" instead of "meine")

1 Kirchner: "von den Himmeln"; Hiller, Milcke: "vom Himmel" (further changes may exist not shown above)
2 Rust: "Kummer, Leid"
3 Schubert: "stillst"
4 Schubert: "Entzückung füllst"
5 Rust: "Bangen Schmerzes, wilder Lust,"; Arnim and J. Marx: "Was soll all der Schmerz, die Lust?"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Wanderer's night song
Language: English 
You who are from heaven,
You quiet all sorrow and pain;
And he who is doubly wretched
You fill with twice as much [comfort]1.
Ah! I am tired of being driven!
For what is all this pain and joy?
Sweet peace,
Come, ah, come into my heart!

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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1 for Schubert's version: "delight"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Ach wenn du wärst mein eigen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emmy Schlieffen , "Ach wenn du wärst mein eigen", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen,
  Wie lieb [sollt'st]1 du mir sein,
  Wie wollt' ich tief im Herzen
  Nur hegen dich allein,
Und alle Wonn' und alles Glück
Mir schöpfen nur aus deinem Blick.

  Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen,
  Wie wär' die Welt dann schön,
  Es bliebe nichts zu wünschen,
  Als [stets -- dich]2 anzuseh'n;
Und, ganz versunken in mein Glück,
Erhielt' die Welt nicht einen Blick.

  Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen,
  Wie würd' ich dann so gut;
  Auf deine Hoheit stützte
  Ich meinen schwachen Muth.
Mein höchster Lohn, mein höchstes Glück
Erglänzte [mir]3 in deinem Blick.

  Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen,
  Wie schien' mir hold der Tod,
  Er träfe uns zusammen; - -
  Und, gleich dem Abendroth,
Wär' er der Schluß des Tags voll Glück,
Verzehrend süß, [ein]4 Liebesblick.

  Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen,
  Bis einst mein Auge bricht,
  So würd' ich droben sagen:
  "Ich laß [ihn]5 ewig nicht!
"Im Himmel selbst ohn' [ihn]5 kein Glück!"
Das ist mein Trost, mein Hoffnungsblick.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Ida Gräfin Hahn-Hahn, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1835, pages 96-97.

1 Saloman: "sollst"
2 Cramer: "stets dich"
3 Saloman: "nur"
4 Saloman: "im"
5 Lang: "dich"

by Ida Marie Luise Sophie Friederike Gustava Hahn-Hahn (1805 - 1880)
2.
Language: English 
  Ah, if you belonged to me,
  How I should treasure you!
  How would I cherish you alone
  Deep in my heart,
And all joy and all happiness
I would draw only from your gaze!

  Ah, if you belonged to me
  How beautiful the world would be!
  There would be nothing left to wish for
  But only to look at you all the time.
And, completely submerged in my happiness,
The world would not receive a single glance from me.

  Ah, if you belonged to me
  How I would become so good!
  Upon your majesty I would support
  My weak courage.
My highest reward, my greatest happiness
Would glow for me from your gaze!

  Ah, if you belonged to me,
  How lovely death would seem
  If it would strike us simultaneously - -
  And, like the red glow of sunset,
It would be the end of a day full of happiness,
Consumed by sweetness, a glance of love.

  Ah, if you belonged to me
  Until once I die!
  I would say on high:
  I shall not leave [him]1 in all eternity.
Even in heaven, there can be no joy without [him]1.
That is my comfort and my hope!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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Translated titles:
"Ach, wenn du wärst mein eigen" = "Ah, if you belonged to me"
"Wenn du wärst mein eigen" = "If you belonged to me"

1 Lang: "you"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-07
Line count: 30
Word count: 199

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Mailied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emmy Schlieffen , "Mailied", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwischen Weizen und Korn,
Zwischen Hecken und Dorn,
Zwischen Bäumen und Gras,
Wo [gehts]1 Liebchen? 
Sag mir das.

  Fand mein Holdchen 
  Nicht daheim;
  Muß das Goldchen 
  Draußen sein.
  Grünt und blühet 
  Schön der Mai;
  Liebchen ziehet 
  Froh und frei.

An dem Felsen beim Fluß,
Wo sie reichte den Kuß,
Jenen ersten im Gras, 
Seh' ich etwas!
Ist sie das? --2

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Note: The modernized spelling of "Weizen" is "Waizen". See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

1 Huberti: "geht das"
2 Several composers (not Huberti, Medtner) add: "Das ist sie, das!"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. May song
Language: English 
Between wheat and corn,
Between thicket and thorn,
Between trees and grass,
Where has my sweetheart gone? 
Tell me.

  I did not find my darling 
  At home.
  My treasure 
  Must be outside.
  May is blooming 
  Green and fair -
  My love must be wandering, 
  Happy and free.

At the cliffs by the river,
where she bestowed the kiss,
that first one in the grass - 
Do I see something?
Is it she?

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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Translations of titles
"Mailied" = "May song"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Trompeterlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emmy Schlieffen , "Trompeterlied", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hell schmetternd ruft die Lerche
Mich aus dem Traume wach,
Es grüßt im Morgenschimmer
Der junge Frühlingstag.

Im Garten rauscht die Palme
Geheimnißvoll bewegt,
An's ferne Meeresufer
Die Brandung schäumend schlagt,

Und ehern blau der Himmel,
Gülden der Sonnenschein,
Mein Herz, was willst du weiter?
Stimm' in den Jubel ein!

Und sing' ein Lied zum Preise
Deinem alten Gott und Herrn,
Er hat dich nie verlassen,
Du nur, du bist ihm fern.

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
4. Song of the trumpeter
Language: English 
Brightly singing, the lark calls,
Waking me from my dreams,
In the shimmer of morning I am greeted
By the young spring day.

In the garden the palm tree rustles,
Secretly moved;
The waves crash foamingly
Upon the distance seashore,

And brazen blue the heavens,
Golden the sunshine;
My heart, what more do you want?
Join into the rejoicing!

And sing a song in praise
Of the old God and Lord,
He has never forsaken you,
Only you, you are far from him.

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: 

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Translated titles:
"Hell schmetternd ruft die Lerche" = "Brightly singing, the lark calls"
"Trompeterlied" = "Song of the trumpeter"
"Erwachen" = "Awakening"


This text was added to the website: 2014-09-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Gefunden  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emmy Schlieffen , "Gefunden", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1891 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich ging im Wald 
Durch [Kraut]1 und Gras
Und dachte dies
Und dachte das,
Da hört' ich es kommen und gehn, --
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch,
Da hat mich ein Jäger gesehn.

Hab' mich geduckt,
Durch's Laub gespäht
Und wollte fort,
Da war's zu spät,
Sein Hündlein kam spürend getrappt,
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch,
Da hat mich [ein]2 Jäger ertappt.

[Er frug, warum
Ich mich versteckt,
Ob er mir Furcht 
Und Angst erweckt]3,
Ich sagte: O, dass ich nicht wüsst'!
Husch! husch!
Hinter'm Busch --
[Husch! hat]4 mich [ein]2 Jäger geküsst.

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1 Oehme: "Laub"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Wieninger: "der"
3 Greger: "Er fragte, ob / Er mich erschreckt, / Ob er mir Angst / Und Furcht erweckt."
4 Greger: "Da hat"

by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910)
5. Found
Language: English 
In the forest I walked
Through [herbs]1 and grass,
Thinking of this,
Thinking of that,
Then I heard something coming and going, --
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
A huntsman espied me.
 
I crouched down,
Peered through the foliage,
And wanted to leave;
It was too late,
His little dog, scenting me, came trotting up,
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
A huntsman caught me.
 
[He asked me why
I had hidden myself,
If he scared me
Or made me fearful.]2
I said: Oh, not that I know!
Whisht, whisht!
Behind the bush
[Whisht! a]3 huntsman kissed me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translated titles:
"Husch, husch" = "Whisht, whisht"
"Ich ging im Wald durch Kraut und Gras" = "Through herbs and grass in the forest I walked"
"Husch! husch!" = "Whisht! whisht!"
"Ich ging im Wald" = "I walked in the forest"
"Jägerlied" = "Song of the huntsman"
"Husch, husch! hintern Busch" = "Whisht, whisht! behind the bush"
"Lied der Waldtraut" = "Song of Waldtraut"
"Gefunden" = "Found"
"Waldtrauts Lied" = "Waldtraut's song"

1 Oehme: "[fallen] leaves"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Greger: "He asked if / He had startled me, / If he had caused me / to be anxious or fearful."
3 Greger: "A"


This text was added to the website: 2015-03-19
Line count: 24
Word count: 99

Translation © by Sharon Krebs