English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 18

by Eugen (Francis Charles) d'Albert (1864 - 1932)

1. Grauer Vogel über der Heide
 (Sung text)
by Eugen (Francis Charles) d'Albert (1864 - 1932), "Grauer Vogel über der Heide", op. 18 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Adolph Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Grauer Vogel über der Haide,
Der klagend die Heimat mied,
Ich glaube, wir beide, wir beide
Haben dasselbe Lied.

Es hat dir ein Sturm aus Norden
Zerstört das heimische Nest; 
Auch mir ist entrissen worden,
Was mein ich wähnte so fest.

Wir wollen zusammen singen
Das Lied vom verlor'nen Glück,
Und wollen uns weiter schwingen 
Und nimmer kehren zurück.

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by Emil Rudolf Osman, Prinz von Schönaich-Carolath (1852 - 1908)
1. Grey bird [soaring] above the heath
Language: English 
Grey bird [soaring] above the heath,
Who lamentingly eschewed its homeland,
I believe that we two, we two
Share the same song.

A storm from the north has
Destroyed your homey nest;
From me as well was torn
That which I was so sure was mine.

Let us sing together
The song of lost happiness,
And let us take ourselves onward
And nevermore return.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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 title(s):
"Grauer Vogel" = "Grey bird"
"Grauer Vogel über der Heide" = "Grey bird [soaring] above the heath"
"Grauer Vogel über der Haide" = "Grey bird [soaring] above the heath"



This text was added to the website: 2019-04-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Meine Seele
 (Sung text)
by Eugen (Francis Charles) d'Albert (1864 - 1932), "Meine Seele", op. 18 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Adolph Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nimm dich in Acht, mein Lieb, du kennst mich nicht!
So wie der Goldgrund alter Schloßtapeten
Durch tausend übermalte Farben bricht,
Um sonnenleuchtend an den Tag zu treten, -

So wie im Steppenbrande Halm für Halm
Jählings verknisternd durch die Flammen fliegen,
Um immer wieder aus dem Aschenqualm
Den schlanken Siegerleib im Licht zu wiegen -

So treib nur hin, so toll' nur lachend hin,
Wo weiße Frauenarme dich umwinden:
Denn immer - weil ich deine Sehnsucht bin, -
Wirst du in fremden meine Seele finden!

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by Ludwig Jacobowski (1868 - 1900)
2. My soul
Language: English 
Beware, my love, you do not know me!
Just as the golden background of old wallpaper in castles
Breaks forth through a thousand overlaid colours
In order to step into the light of the day, shining like the sun, -

Just as in a fire on the steppe grass-blade upon grass-blade,
Dissolving in sparks, flies hastily through the flames,
In order to stand swaying its victorious form in the light
Ever anew from out of the ash-fumes -

Only surge onward thus, so madly laughing onward,
Where the white arms of women encircle you:
Because always - since I am your yearning, -
You shall find my soul within strangers!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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 title(s):
"Meine Seele" = "My soul"
"Siegerin" = "Victorious woman"



This text was added to the website: 2019-04-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 106

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Leuchtende Tage
 (Sung text)
by Eugen (Francis Charles) d'Albert (1864 - 1932), "Leuchtende Tage", op. 18 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Adolph Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach, unsre leuchtenden Tage
Glänzen wie ewige Sterne.
Als Trost für künftige Klage
Glüh'n sie aus goldener Ferne.

Nicht weinen,weil sie vorüber!
Lächeln, weil sie gewesen!
Umgrauen die Tage uns trüber,
Unsere Sterne erlösen!

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by Ludwig Jacobowski (1868 - 1900)
3. Radiant days
Language: English 
Ah, our radiant days
Sparkle like eternal stars.
As a solace for future lamentation
They glow from the golden distance.

Do not weep because they are past!
Smile, because they once were!
[And even if the days become drearier]1,
Our stars shall save [us]!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Zilcher: "Even if the days become drearier"; d'Albert: "Though the days shroud us more drearily in greyness"


This text was added to the website: 2012-09-02
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Der Korb
 (Sung text)
by Eugen (Francis Charles) d'Albert (1864 - 1932), "Der Korb", op. 18 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1898 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Adolph Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich habe keinen Schatz,
Und mag auch keinen haben;
Die Muhmen und die Basen,
Die rümpfen ihre Nasen,  -- 
Für hergelauf'ne Knaben
Weiß ich bei mir nicht Platz.
Die Andern mögen lachen
Und mir Gesichter machen,  --  
Ich habe keinen Schatz,
Und mag auch keinen haben. 

Ich will den freien Blick
Vor Keinem niederschlagen;
Mein Mund will gar nichts wissen
Von bärtigen Stachelküssen,
Es thut mir wohl behagen
Mein lediges Geschick.
Mich soll man nicht bethören,
Ich will davon nichts hören,
Ich will den freien Blick
Vor Keinem niederschlagen.

Auch könnt' ich kaum besteh'n
Vor einem Schönheitskenner,
Weil meine braunen Augen
Zum Schmachten wenig taugen;
Zwar denk' ich: für die Männer
Bin ich noch viel zu schön!
Zum Schmuck für meine Haare
Entbehr' ich fremder Waare,
Doch könnt' ich kaum besteh'n
Vor einem Schönheitskenner.

Schlag' Er sich's aus dem Sinn,
Ich nehm' Ihn nicht, Herr Vetter! 
Die kleinen Kinder wiegen,
Das ist ein schlecht Vergnügen.
Ich wünsch' Ihm gutes Wetter
Zur Weiterreise hin.
Mir weiß ich bess're Wochen
Als Thee und Milchbrei kochen -- 
Schlag' Er sich's aus dem Sinn,
Ich nehm' Ihn nicht, Herr Vetter!

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Confirmed with Fliegende Blätter, München: Braun & Schneider. No. 1479, 1873, pages 161 - 162.


by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921)
4. The rejection
Language: English 
I have no sweetheart,
And I do not want one either;
My aunts and cousins,
They wrinkle up their noses, --
For foreign lads who turn up
I have no use.
Others may laugh
And pull faces at me, --
I have no sweetheart,
And I do not want one either.

I wish to lower my free eyes
Before no one;
My lips wish to know nothing of
The spiky kisses of bearded gentlemen,
I am very well content with
My unencumbered existence.
No one shall beguile me,
I wish to hear nothing of it,
I wish to lower my free eyes
Before no one.

Also, I could hardly pass muster
Before a connoisseur of beauty,
Because my brown eyes are
Not good at looking soulful;
To be sure, I think that I am
Much too beautiful for men!
As an adornment for my hair
I have no need of foreign wares,
But I could hardly pass muster
Before a connoisseur of beauty.

Put it out of your mind, 
I shall not accept you, good sir!
Rocking little children
Is a poor amusement.
I wish you good weather
For your onward journey.
I know of better ways to spend my weeks
Than cooking tea and milk pudding --
Put it out of your mind, 
I shall not accept you, good sir!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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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This text was added to the website: 2019-04-28
Line count: 40
Word count: 218

Translation © by Sharon Krebs