English translations of Zwei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 292

by Carl Bohm (1844 - 1920)

1. Die Monduhr  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Bohm (1844 - 1920), "Die Monduhr", op. 292 no. 1, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Hainauer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"Der Förster ging zu Fest und Schmaus!"
Der Wildschütz zieht in den Wald hinaus.

Es schläft sein Weib mit dem Kind allein,
Es scheint der Mond in's Kämmerlein.

Und wie er scheint auf die weiße Wand,
Da faßt das Kind der Mutter Hand.

"Ach, Mutter, wo bleibt der Vater so lang',
Mir wird so weh, mir wird so bang!"

"Kind, sieh nicht in den Mondenschein,
Schließ' deine [Augen und schlafe ein]1."

Der Mondschein zieht die Wand entlang,
Er [scheint wohl auf die]2 Büchse blank.

"Ach Mutter, und hörst den Schuß du nicht?
Das war des Vaters Büchse nicht!"

"Kind, sieh nicht in den Mondenschein,
Das war ein Traum, schlaf ruhig ein."

Der Mond scheint tief in's Kämmerlein
Auf des Vaters Bild mit blassem Schein.

"Herr Jesus Christus im Himmelreich!
O Mutter, der Vater ist todtenbleich!"

Und wie die Mutter vom Schlummer erwacht,
Da haben sie todt ihn [hereingebracht]3.

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1 Marschner : "Augen, schlaf' doch ein"
2 Marschner : "schimmert auf der"
3 Marschner: "heimgebracht"

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
1. A walk in the moonlight
Language: English 
"The forester went off to celebration and feast!"
The poacher heads out into the forest.

His wife sleeps alone with their child,
The moon shines into the bed-chamber.

And as it shines upon the white wall,
The child grasps the mother's hand.

"Ah mother, what is keeping father so long,
I am so concerned, I am so worried!"

"Child, do not look into the moonlight,
Close your eyes, and go to sleep."

The moonlight passes along the wall,
It shimmers upon the shiny musket.

"Oh Mother, and did you not hear that shot?
That was not father's musket!"

"Child, do not look into the moonlight,
That was a dream, go peacefully to sleep."

The moonbeams reached far into the chamber
And shone palely upon the father's portrait.

"Lord Jesus Christ in the kingdom of Heaven!
Oh Mother, Father is pale as death!"

And as the mother awoke from her slumbers,
They brought her husband home dead.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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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Note: this is a translation of Marschner's version.

This text was added to the website: 2010-11-22
Line count: 22
Word count: 156

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Da die Stunde kam  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Bohm (1844 - 1920), "Da die Stunde kam", op. 292 no. 2, published 1883 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Hainauer
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
Language: English 
When the hour came that 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 through the air,
  But all the beauty passed me in swift flight:
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 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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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

Translation © by Sharon Krebs