English translations of Fünf Gesänge, opus 104

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Nachtwache I
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Nachtwache I", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 1 (1888?), published 1888, stanza 1 [ saatbb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
1.
Leise Töne der Brust, geweckt vom Odem der Liebe,
  Hauchet zitternd hinaus, ob sich euch öff'ne ein Ohr,
Oeffn' ein liebendes Herz, und wenn sich keines euch öffnet, 
  Trag' ein Nachtwind euch seufzend in meines zurück.

 ...

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1. Gentle sounds of the soul
Language: English 
Gentle sounds of the soul, inspired by the breath of love,
blow tremblingly forth, if you open an ear,
open a loving heart; and if none opens to you,
let the night wind carry you sighing back to me.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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: 2004-04-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 81

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Nachtwache II
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Nachtwache II", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 2 (1888?), published 1888, stanza 5 [ saatbb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

5.
Ruhn sie? rufet das Horn des Wächters drüben aus Westen, 
  Und aus Osten das Horn rufet entgegen: Sie ruhn!
Hörst du, zagendes Herz, die flüsternden Stimmen der Engel? 
  Lösche die Lampe getrost, hülle in Frieden dich ein.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. Gentle sounds of the soul
Language: English 
[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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: 2004-04-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 81

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Letztes Glück
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Letztes Glück", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 3 (1888?), published 1888 [ saatbb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leblos gleitet Blatt um Blatt
Still und traurig von den Bäumen;
Seines Hoffens nimmer satt,
Lebt das Herz in Frühlingsträumen. 

Noch verweilt ein Sonnenblick
Bei den späten Hagerosen,
Wie bei einem letzten Glück,
Einem süßen, hoffnungslosen.

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by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921)
3. Last bit of happiness
Language: English 
 Leaf upon leaf floats lifelessly,
 quietly and sadly from the trees;
 its hopes never satisfied,
 the heart dwells in dreams of spring.

 Yet a sunny glance still lingers
 in the late-blooming rose bush,
 like one last bit of happiness -
 a sweet hopelessness.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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: 2004-04-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Verlorene Jugend
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Verlorene Jugend", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 4, published 1888 [ satbb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Brausten alle Berge, 
Sauste rings der Wald, --
Meine jungen Tage, 
Wo sind sie so bald? 

Jugend, teure Jugend,
Flohest mir dahin;
O du holde Jugend,
Achtlos war mein Sinn! 

Ich verlor dich leider,
Wie wenn einen Stein
Jemand von sich schleudert
In die Flut hinein. 

Wendet sich der Stein auch
Um in tiefer Flut,
Weiss ich, dass die Jugend
Doch kein Gleiches tut.

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by Josef Wenzig (1807 - 1876)
4. Lost youth
Language: English 
The mountains all bluster,
the woods murmur all about -
my days of youth,
where have you so soon gone?

Youth, precious youth,
you have flown from me;
o lovely youth,
so heedless was my mind!

I lost you regrettably, [accidentally,]
as when one takes a stone
and flings it away
into a stream.

Sometimes a stone can be reversed in its course
and return from the deep flood -
but I know that youth
will never do the same thing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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: 2004-04-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 79

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Im Herbst
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Im Herbst", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 5 (1886), published 1888 [ satb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ernst ist der Herbst. 
Und wenn die Blätter fallen,
sinkt auch das Herz
zu trübem Weh herab.
Still ist die Flur, 
und nach dem Süden wallen
die Sänger, stumm,
wie nach dem Grab.

Bleich ist der Tag,
und blasse Nebel schleiern
die Sonne wie die Herzen, ein.
Früh kommt die Nacht: 
denn alle Kräfte feiern, 
und tief verschlossen ruht das Sein.

Sanft wird der Mensch.
Er sieht die Sonne sinken,
er ahnt des Lebens
wie des Jahres Schluß.
Feucht wird das Aug',
doch in der Träne Blinken,
entströmt des Herzens
seligster Erguß.

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by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
5. In the autumn
Language: English 
Somber is the autumn,
and when the leaves fall,
so does the heart sink
into dreary woe.
Silent is the meadow
and to the south have flown
silently all the songbirds,
as if to the grave.

Pale is the day,
and wan clouds veil
the sun as they veil the heart.
Night comes early:
for all work comes to a halt
and existence itself rests in profound secrecy.

Man becomes kindly.
He sees the sun sinking,
he realizes that life is
like the end of a year.
His eye grows moist,
yet in the midst of his tears shines
streaming from the heart
a blissful effusion.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2004-04-28
Line count: 22
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Ezust