English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 106

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Ständchen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Ständchen", op. 106 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1 (1886?7), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Mond steht über dem Berge,
So recht für verliebte Leut';
Im Garten rieselt ein Brunnen,
Sonst Stille weit und breit.

Neben der Mauer im Schatten,
Da stehn der Studenten drei,
Mit Flöt' und Geig' und Zither,
Und singen und spielen dabei.

Die Klänge schleichen der Schönsten
Sacht in den Traum hinein,
sie schaut den blonden Geliebten
und lispelt: Vergiß nicht mein.

Text Authorship:

  • by Franz Theodor Kugler (1808 - 1858), "Ständchen", from Gedichte, Stuttgart and Tübingen, first published 1840

See other settings of this text.

Note: some lines of this poem were used in Zanettovich's Lied (mond - nacht - liebes - traum - lied)

by Franz Theodor Kugler (1808 - 1858)
1. Serenade
Language: English 
The moon hangs over the mountain,
So fitting for love-struck people.
In the garden trickles a fountain;
Otherwise, it is still far and wide.

Near the wall, in shadows,
there stand the students three:
with flute and fiddle and zither,
they sing and play there.

The sounds waft up to the loveliest of women,
gently entering her dreams.
She gazes on her blond beloved
and whispers: "Forget me not!"

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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Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Auf dem See
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Auf dem See", op. 106 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1885), published 1888, stanzas 1-2,4-6 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  An dies Schifflein schmiege,
Holder See, dich sacht!
Frommer Liebe Wiege,
Nimm sie wohl in Acht!

  Deine Wellen rauschen;
Rede nicht so laut!
Laß mich ihr nur lauschen,
Die mir viel vertraut!

 ... 

  Deine Wellen zittern
Von der Sonne Glut;
Ob sie's heimlich wittern,
Wie die Liebe tut?

  Weit und weiter immer
Rück den Strand hinaus!
Aus dem Himmel nimmer
Laß uns steigen aus!

  Fern von Menschenreden
Und von Menschensinn,
Als ein schwimmend Eden
Trag dies Schifflein hin!

Text Authorship:

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First published in the periodical Morgenblatt, November 9, 1840 (No. 268).

Note to Lang's setting: Lang was working a text that Köstlin had copied out for her (Christian Reinhold Köstlin’s poetry manuscripts, Cod.hist. 4º 437, Fasz. 10a Nr. 1, poem [23], Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart, Germany); in that copy the poem began with "Um." With the exception of "rauschen" in stanza 3 (which was Lang's error) all the other differences are also from that poetry manuscript.

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
2. Nestle up to this little boat
Language: English 
Nestle up to this little boat,
lovely lake, gently!
Cradle of holy love,
Take good care of it!

Your waves are roaring;
do not speak so loudly!
Just let me listen to her,
who is confiding so much to me!

[ ... ]

Your waves tremble
from the heat of the sun,
could it be they secretly sense 
how love works?

Farther and farther,
draw us away from the shore!
From this heaven
never let me descend!

Far from human speech
and human thoughts,
like a floating Eden,
carry this little boat away!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 104

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Es hing der Reif
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es hing der Reif", op. 106 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3 (1888), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es hing der Reif im Lindenbaum,
Wodurch das Licht wie Silber floß;
Ich sah dein Haus, wie hell im Traum
Ein blitzend Feenschloß.

Und offen stand das Fenster dein,
Ich konnte dir ins Zimmer sehn --
Da tratst du in den Sonnenschein,
Du dunkelste der Feen!

Ich bebt, in seligem Genuß,
So frühlingswarm und wunderbar:
Da merkt ich gleich an deinem Gruß,
Daß Frost und Winter war.

Text Authorship:

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by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
3. Hoarfrost was hanging
Language: English 
Hoarfrost was hanging in the linden tree boughs,
through which the light streamed like silver.
I saw your house, as brightly as in a dream,
a sparkling fairy castle.

And your window stood open --
I could even see you in your room;
then you stepped into the sunshine
you darkest of fairies!

I shivered with blissful pleasure,
so spring-warm and wonderful:
but then I realized from your greeting,
that it was actually frosty winter.

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Meine Lieder
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Meine Lieder", op. 106 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4 (1888), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn mein Herz beginnt zu klingen
Und den Tönen löst die Schwingen,
Schweben vor mir her und wieder
Bleiche Wonnen, unvergessen
Und die Schatten von Zypressen -
Dunkel klingen meine Lieder!

Text Authorship:

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by Adolf Frey (1855 - 1920)
4. My songs
Language: English 
 When my heart begins to make music
 and the vibrating loosens wondrous tones,
 there hover before me, here and there,
 pale ecstasies, unforgotten,
 and the shadows of the cypresses;
 dark is the sound of my songs!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 37

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Ein Wanderer
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Ein Wanderer", op. 106 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5 (1885), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Hier, wo sich die Straßen scheiden,
Wo nun gehn die Wege hin?
Meiner ist der Weg der Leiden,
Deß ich immer sicher bin.
 
   Wandrer, die des Weges gehen,
Fragen freundlich, wohinaus?
Keiner wird mich doch verstehen,
Sag' ich ihm, wo ich zu Haus.
 
   Reiche Erde, arme Erde,
Hast du keinen Raum für mich?
Wo ich einst begraben werde,
An der Stelle lieb' ich dich.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with: C. Reinhold, Gedichte, Stuttgart: Carl Mäcken, 1853, pages 54-55.


by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
5. A traveler
Language: English 
 Here, where the roads diverge,
 where now do the paths go?
 Mine is the path of sorrows -
 of that I am always certain.

 Travelers who take this path
 ask with friendliness: where are you going?
 None will understand me
 if I tell him where I live.

 Rich earth, poor earth,
 Have you no room for me?
 Where I will someday be buried,
 that is the place I will 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.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust