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English translations of Drei Gesänge von Goethe mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 83

by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

1. Wonne der Wehmut
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Wonne der Wehmut", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge von Goethe mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1810)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
Thränen der ewigen Liebe!
Ach! nur dem halbgetrockneten Auge
Wie öde, wie todt die Welt ihm erscheint!
Trocknet nicht, trocknet nicht,
Thränen unglücklicher Liebe!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Wonne der Wehmuth", written 1775, first published 1789

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. The joy of sadness
Language: English 
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of eternal love!
Even to the half-dry eye
How desolate and dead the world appears!
Do not run dry, do not run dry,
Tears of unhappy love!

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Wonne der Wehmuth", written 1775, first published 1789
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Wonne der Wehmut" = "The joy of sadness"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Sehnsucht
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Sehnsucht", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge von Goethe mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2 (1810)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was zieht mir das Herz so?
Was zieht mich hinaus?
Und windet und schraubt mich
Aus Zimmer und Haus?
Wie dort sich die Wolken
Um Felsen verziehn!
Da möcht' ich hinüber,
Da möcht' ich wohl hin!

Nun wiegt sich der Raben
Geselliger Flug;
Ich mische mich drunter
Und folge dem Zug.
Und Berg und Gemäuer
Umfittigen wir;
Sie weilet da drunten;
Ich spähe nach ihr.

Da kommt sie und wandelt;
Ich eile sobald
Ein singender Vogel
Zum buschigen Wald.
Sie weilet und horchet
Und lächelt mit sich:
"Er singet so lieblich
Und singt es an mich."

Die scheidende Sonne
vergüldet die Höhn;
Die sinnende Schöne
Sie läßt es geschehn.
Sie wandelt am Bache
Die Wiesen entlang,
Und finster und finstrer
Umschlingt sich der Gang;

Auf einmal erschein' ich
Ein blinkender Stern.
"Was glänzet da droben,
So nah und so fern?"
Und hast du mit Staunen
Das Leuchten erblickt;
Ich lieg dir zu Füßen,
Da bin ich beglückt!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Sehnsucht", written 1802, first published 1804

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Longing
Language: English 
 What pulls at my heart so?
 What pulls me outside?
 And twists me and yanks me
 from this room and the house?
 How the clouds there
 disperse around the cliffs!
 I'd like to go there,
 I've very much like to go!
 
 Now ravens pass by
 in friendly flight;
 I mix with them
 and follow their course.
 And mountain and ruin
 we circle in flight;
 she lingers below,
 and I peer after her.
 
 Then she comes wandering;
 I hurry immediately,
 a singing bird,
 to the bushy wood.
 She lingers and listens
 and smiles to herself:
 "He sings so nicely
 and he is singing for me!"
 
 The departing sun
 gilds the heights;
 the pensive, fair lady,
 she lets it happen.
 She wanders by the brook,
 along the meadows,
 and darker and darker
 twists the path;
 
 At once I appear,
 a glittering star.
 "What gleams up there,
 so near and so far?"
 And when, with astonishment,
 you gaze upon this light,
 I will lie at your feet
 and be happy there!

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Sehnsucht", written 1802, first published 1804
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Sehnsucht" = "Longing"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 169

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mit einem gemalten Band
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Mit einem gemalten Band", op. 83 (Drei Gesänge von Goethe mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1810)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kleine Blumen, kleine Blätter
Streuen mir mit leichter Hand
Gute, junge Frühlings-Götter
Tändelnd auf ein luftig Band.

Zephir, nimm's auf deine Flügel,
Schling's um meiner Liebsten Kleid;
Und so tritt sie vor den Spiegel
All in ihrer Munterkeit.

Sieht mit Rosen sich umgeben,
Selbst wie eine Rose jung.
Einen Blick, geliebtes Leben!
Und ich bin belohnt genung.

Fühle, was dies Herz empfindet,
Reiche frei mir deine Hand,
Und das Band, das uns verbindet,
Sei kein schwaches Rosenband!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mit einem gemalten Band", written 1771, second version

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. With a painted ribbon
Language: English 
 Small flowers, small leaves
 are strewn for me with a light hand
 by good, young gods of Spring
 toying with an airy ribbon.
 
 Zephyr, put it on your wing,
 loop it around my sweetheart's dress;
 and so she'll step in front of the mirror
 in all her merriment.
 
 She will see herself surrounded by roses,
 herself like a young rose;
 one glance, beloved life!
 and I will have reward enough.
 
 Feel what this heart feels!
 freely reach me your hand,
 and let this ribbon that binds us
 be no weak ribbon of roses.

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mit einem gemalten Band", written 1771, second version
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Mit einem gemalten Band" = "With a painted ribbon"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94

Translation © by Emily Ezust
Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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