English translations of 6 deutsche Lieder, opus 14

by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907)

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1. Ein Fichtenbaum
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Ein Fichtenbaum", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 1, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Fichtenbaum steht einsam
Im Norden auf kahler Höh';
Ihn schläfert; mit weißer Decke
Umhüllen ihn Eis und Schnee.

Er träumt von einer Palme,
Die fern im Morgenland,
Einsam und schweigend trauert
Auf brennender Felsenwand.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. A spruce-tree stands alone
Language: English 
 A spruce-tree stands alone
 in the north, on the bare heights;
 it slumbers; in a white blanket
 it is surrounded by ice and snow.
 
 It dreams of a palm tree
 which, far-off in the land of the morning,
 grieves, alone and mute,
 on a burning, rocky wall.

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: 48

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Elslein
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Elslein", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 2, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es kommen die Sonnenstrahlen, die feinen,
Die möchten dir gern in die Augen scheinen,
Lug' -- lug',
Elslein, mach' auf!
 
Es kommt die Lerche mit hellem Schwingen,
Möcht' dir ihr Lied zu Herzen singen,
Horch' -- horch',
Elslein, mach' auf!
 
Es kommen zum Fenster herein die Rosen,
Möchten mit deinen Händen kosen,
Lug' -- lug',
Elslein, mach' auf!
 
Bald kommt dein Liebster auch gegangen,
Der möcht'  küssen Mund und Wangen,
Horch' -- horch',
Elslein, mach' auf!

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by Karl Stieler (1842 - 1885)
2. Elsie
Language: English 
There come the sunbeams, the delicate ones,
They would gladly shine into your eyes,
Peek -- peek,
Elsie, open up!
 
[Then the lark comes with bright wings]1,
It would like to sing you a song that will penetrate your heart,
Hark -- hark,
Elsie, open up!
 
In through your window the roses come,
They would like to exchange caresses with your hands,
Peek -- peek,
Elsie, open up!
 
Soon along comes your beloved as well,
He would like to kiss your lips and cheeks,
Hark -- hark,
Elsie, open up!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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):
"Elslein" = "Elsie"
"Elslein, mach' auf" = "Elsie, open up"
"Frühlingsahnen" = "Premonition of spring"
"Frühlingsnahen" = "The nearing of spring"
"Frühlingsnahen (Elslein, mach auf!)" = "The nearing of spring (Elsie, open up!)"
"Morgenständchen" = "Morning serenade"

1 Backer-Grøndahl: "The lark comes with a bright flourish"


This text was added to the website: 2011-06-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Lied des Mädchens
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Lied des Mädchens", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 3, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laß schlafen mich und träumen,
Was hab' ich zu versäumen
In dieser Einsamkeit!
Der Reif bedeckt den Garten,
Mein Dasein ist ein Warten
Auf Liebe nur und Lenzeszeit.

Es kommt im Frühlingsglanze
Für jede kleine Pflanze
Einmal der Blütentag.
So wird der Tag auch kommen,
Da diesem Frost entnommen
Mein Herz in Wonnen blühen mag.

Doch bis mir das gegeben,
Däucht mir nur halb mein Leben,
Und kalt wie Winters Wehn;
Trüb schauert's in den Bäumen -
O laß mich schlafen, träumen,
Bis Liebe mich heißt auferstehn!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. Song of the maiden
Language: English 
Let me sleep and dream,
What could pass me by
In this loneliness!
The frost covers the garden,
My existence is waiting
For love alone and for springtime.
 
In the glow of spring there comes
For every little plant
Once a day of blossoming.
Thus the day shall also come
When, delivered from this frost,
My heart may bloom in joys.
 
But until that is granted to me,
I feel as if I am only half alive,
And [as if I am] as cold as the winter's winds;
There is a bleak shivering in the trees -
Oh let me [sleep, dream]1,
Until love bids me arise [to new life]!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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1 Backer-Grøndahl: "sleep and dream"


This text was added to the website: 2011-06-01
Line count: 18
Word count: 111

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Dulde, gedulde dich fein
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Dulde, gedulde dich fein", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 4, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Dulde, gedulde dich fein!
  Über ein Stündlein
  Ist dein Kammer voll Sonne.

Über den First, wo die Glocken hangen,
Ist schon lange der Schein gegangen,
Ging in Thürmers Fenster ein.
Wer am nächsten dem Sturm der Glocken,
Einsam wohnt er, oft erschrocken,
Doch am frühsten tröstet ihn Sonnenschein.

Wer in tiefen Gassen gebaut,
Hütt' an Hütt'lein lehnt sich traut, 
Glocken haben ihn nie erschüttert,
Wetterstrahl ihn nie umzittert,
Aber spät sein Morgen graut. 

Höh' und Tiefe hat Lust und Leid.
Sag' ihm ab, dem thörigen Neid:
Andrer Gram birgt andre Wonne.

  Dulde, gedulde dich fein!
  Über ein Stündlein
  Ist deine Kammer voll Sonne.

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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".

Note: modern German spelling would change "Thürmers" to "Türmers", "thörigen" to "törigen", etc.

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
4. Endure, arm yourself well with patience
Language: English 
Endure, arm yourself well with patience!
In a mere hour
Your chamber shall be full of sunshine.
 
Above the roof-ridge, where the bells hang,
The radiance has long departed,
It went into the window of the tower watchman.
He who lives closest to the storm of the bells,
He lives in solitude, is often startled,
But he is the first to be comforted by sunshine.
 
He who builds [his house] in deep alleys,
Where hut leans cosily against hut,
Bells have never unsettled him,
[Lightning has never quivered about him]1,
But his morning dawns late.
 
Height and lowness have joy and sorrow.
Reject foolish jealousy:
A different affliction conceals within it a different joy.
 
Endure, arm yourself well with patience!
In a mere hour
Your chamber shall be full of sunshine.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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
"Über ein Stündlein" = "In a mere hour"
"Dulde, gedulde dich fein" = "Endure, arm yourself well with patience"
"Frühlingshoffen" = "Spring hopes"
"Geduld" = "Patience"

1 Pfitzner: "When there is a storm, it takes place [far] above him"


This text was added to the website: 2011-06-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Unruhe
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Unruhe", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 5, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An Wunden, schweren,
Langsam verbluten,
In heimlichen Gluten
Still sich verzehren,
Täglich voll Reue
Den Wahnsinn verschwören.
Täglich aufs neue
Sich wieder betören,
Ewig zum Meiden
Die Schritte wenden
Und doch nicht scheiden -
O Lieb', o Leiden,
Wann wirst du enden!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5. Unrest
Language: English 
From wounds, severe ones,
Slowly to bleed to death,
In secret flames
Quietly to consume one's self,
Daily full of rue
To conspire with madness,
Daily anew
To delude one's self,
Eternally toward avoidance
To turn one's steps
And yet not to depart:
Oh love, oh suffering,
When will you end!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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This text was added to the website: 2011-06-01
Line count: 13
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Ich möcht' es mir selber verschweigen
 (Sung text)
by Agathe Ursula Backer-Grøndahl (1847 - 1907), "Ich möcht' es mir selber verschweigen", op. 14 (6 deutsche Lieder) no. 6, published 1881 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich möcht' es mir selber verschweigen,
Wie du mein Alles bist,
Wie ohne dich dies Leben
Nicht mehr zu denken ist.
 
Ich möcht' es mir selber verschweigen,
Wie sich mein ganzes Sein
In jeder Stunde wendet
Nach deinem Sonnenschein.
 
Ich möcht' es mir selber verschweigen,
Was alle Welt erlauscht,
Wovon die Quelle murmelt,
Wovon die Linde rauscht.--
 
Wie aber kann ich's verschweigen,
Da du zu jeder Frist
Mein höchstes Denken und Sinnen,
Da du mein Alles bist.--

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by Max Jähns (1837 - 1900)
6. I would like to conceal from myself
Language: English 
I would like to conceal from myself
How you are everything to me,
How without you this life
Is no longer thinkable.
 
I would like to conceal from myself
How my entire being
At every hour turns
Toward your sunshine.
 
I would like to conceal from myself
What all the world has overheard,
What the springs murmur,
What the linden tree soughs.
 
But how can I conceal it,
When you at every moment
[Are] my highest thinking and meditation,
When you are everything to me[?]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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This text was added to the website: 2011-06-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 85

Translation © by Sharon Krebs