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English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 105

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Wie Melodien zieht es mir
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Wie Melodien zieht es mir", op. 105 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1 (1886), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie Melodien zieht es
Mir leise durch den Sinn,
Wie Frühlingsblumen blüht es,
Und schwebt wie Duft dahin.

Doch kommt das Wort und faßt es
Und führt es vor das Aug',
Wie Nebelgrau erblaßt es
Und schwindet wie ein Hauch.

Und dennoch ruht im Reime
Verborgen wohl ein Duft,
Den mild aus stillem Keime
Ein feuchtes Auge ruft.

Text Authorship:

  • by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899), no title, appears in Hundert Blätter, Paralipomena zum Quickborn, in Erstes Fünfzig, in Klänge, no. 13, Hamburg, first published 1854

See other settings of this text.

by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
1. It moves like a melody
Language: English 
It moves like a melody,
Gently through my mind;
It blossoms like spring flowers
And wafts away like fragrance.

But when it is captured in words,
And placed before my eyes,
It turns pale like a gray mist
And disappears like a breath.

And yet, remaining in my rhymes
There hides still a fragrance,
Which mildly from the quiet bud
My moist eyes call forth.

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 Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899), no title, appears in Hundert Blätter, Paralipomena zum Quickborn, in Erstes Fünfzig, in Klänge, no. 13, Hamburg, first published 1854
    • Go to the text page.

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer", op. 105 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1886), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer,
Nur wie Schleier liegt mein Kummer
  Zitternd über mir.
Oft im Traume hör' ich dich
Rufen draus vor meiner Thür:
Niemand wacht und öffnet dir,
  Ich erwach' und weine bitterlich.

Ja ich werde sterben müssen,
Eine andre wirst du küssen,
  Wenn ich bleich und kalt.
Eh die Maienlüfte wehn,
Eh die Drossel singt im Wald:
Willst du mich noch einmal sehn,
  Komm, o komme bald!

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann von Lingg (1820 - 1905), "Lied", first published 1857

See other settings of this text.

by Hermann von Lingg (1820 - 1905)
2. My slumber grows ever more peaceful
Language: English 
My slumber grows ever more peaceful;
and only like a thin veil now does my anxiety
lie trembling upon me.
Often in my dreams I hear you
calling outside my door;
no one is awake to let you in,
and I wake up and weep bitterly.

Yes, I will have to die;
another will you kiss,
when I am pale and cold.
Before the May breezes blow,
before the thrush sings in the forest:
if you wish to see me once more,
come, o come soon!

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 Hermann von Lingg (1820 - 1905), "Lied", first published 1857
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Klage
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Klage", op. 105 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3 (1887/8), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Feins Liebchen, trau du nicht,
Daß er dein Herz nicht bricht!
Schön Worte will er geben,
Es kostet dein jung Leben,
Glaubs sicherlich, glaubs sicherlich!

Ich werde nimmer froh,
Denn mir ging es also:
Die Blätter vom Baum gefallen
Mit den schönen Worten allen,
Ist Winterzeit, ist Winterzeit!

Es ist jetzt Winterzeit,
Die Vögelein sind weit,
Die mir im Lenz gesungen,
Mein Herz ist mir gesprungen
Vor Liebesleid, vor Liebesleid.

Text Authorship:

  • possibly from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , collected by Kretzschmer and Zuccalmaglio, Berlin, first published 1838-40

Go to the general single-text view

possibly from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
3. Lament
Language: English 
 My fine darling, trust not
 that he will not break your heart!
 Fair words will he speak,
 but they will cost you your young life;
 Believe it as the truth!

 I will never delight again,
 for that is what happened to me too:
 the leaves have fallen from the tree
 together with all the pretty words.
 It is wintertime, wintertime!

 It is now wintertime,
 the birds are far away,
 those birds that sang to me in Spring.
 My heart has broken
 from love's pain, from love's pain.

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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 87

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Auf dem Kirchhofe
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Auf dem Kirchhofe", op. 105 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4 (1887/8), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Tag ging regenschwer und sturmbewegt,
Ich war an manch vergeßnem Grab gewesen,
Verwittert Stein und Kreuz, die Kränze alt,
Die Namen überwachsen, kaum zu lesen.

Der Tag ging sturmbewegt und regenschwer,
Auf allen Gräbern fror das Wort: Gewesen.
Wie sturmestot die Särge schlummerten,
Auf allen Gräbern taute still: Genesen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Auf dem Kirchhofe", appears in Adjudantenritte

See other settings of this text.

by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
4. In the churchyard
Language: English 
The day was heavy with rain and disturbed by storms;
I was walking among many forgotten graves,
with weathered stones and crosses, the wreaths old,
the names washed away, hardly to be read.

The day was disturbed by storms and heavy with rain;
on every grave froze the words "we were."
The coffins slumbered calmly like the eye of a storm,
and on every grave melted quietly the words: "we were healed."

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 Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Auf dem Kirchhofe", appears in Adjudantenritte
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 72

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Verrat
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Verrat", op. 105 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5 (1886), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand in einer lauen Nacht
An einer grünen Linde,
Der Mond schien hell, der Wind ging sacht,
Der Gießbach floß geschwinde.

Die Linde stand vor Liebchens Haus,
Die Thüre hört' ich knarren.
Mein Schatz ließ sacht ein Mannsbild 'raus:
„Laß morgen mich nicht harren;

Laß mich nicht harren, süßer Mann,
Wie hab' ich dich so gerne!
Ans Fenster klopfe leise an,
Mein Schatz ist in der Ferne!”

Laß ab vom Druck und Kuß, Feinslieb,
Du Schöner im Sammetkleide,
Nun spute dich, du feiner Dieb,
Ein Mann harrt auf der Haide.

Der Mond scheint hell, der Rasen grün
Ist gut zu unserm Begegnen,
Du trägst ein Schwert und nickst so kühn,
Dein' Liebschaft will ich segnen! --

Und als erschien der lichte Tag,
Was fand er auf der Haide?
Ein Toter in den Blumen lag
Zu einer Falschen Leide.

Text Authorship:

  • by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Verrath", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 2. Im Volkston, in Reiterlieder, first published 1861

Go to the general single-text view

by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913)
5. Betrayal
Language: English 
 I stood, one warm night,
 by a green linden-tree;
 the moon shone brightly, the wind blew gently,
 the torrent flowed swiftly.

 The linden-tree stood before my darling's house,
 and I heard the door creak.
 My sweetheart quietly let out a man's form:
 "Tomorrow don't keep me waiting;

 don't keep me waiting, sweet man,
 how I love you!
 Knock gently on the window,
 for my sweetheart is far away!"

 Cease your hugging and kissing, dear,
 and you, you handsome lad in velvet,
 you fine thief, make haste now, 
 for a man is waiting for you on the heath.

 The moon shines brightly, the green grass
 is just right for our encounter.
 You wear a sword and nod so audaciously;
 Come, let me bless your wooing! -

 And when the light of day appeared,
 what did it find on the heath?
 A dead man lay in the flowers 
 to the grief of a false woman.

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 Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Verrath", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 2. Im Volkston, in Reiterlieder, first published 1861
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 152

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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