LiederNet logo

CONTENTS

×
  • Home | Introduction
  • Composers (20,111)
  • Text Authors (19,486)
  • Go to a Random Text
  • What’s New
  • A Small Tour
  • FAQ & Links
  • Donors
  • DONATE

UTILITIES

  • Search Everything
  • Search by Surname
  • Search by Title or First Line
  • Search by Year
  • Search by Collection

CREDITS

  • Emily Ezust
  • Contributors (1,114)
  • Contact Information
  • Bibliography

  • Copyright Statement
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us on Facebook

English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 107

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

Return to the original list

1. An die Stolze
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An die Stolze", op. 107 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1 (1886), published 1888, stanzas 1-2 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und gleichwohl kann ich anders nicht,
Ich muß ihr günstig sein,
Obgleich der Augen stolzes Licht
Mir mißgönnt seinen Schein.
Ich will, ich soll, ich soll, ich muß dich lieben,
Dadurch wir beid' uns nur betrüben,
Weil mein Wunsch doch nicht gilt
Und du nicht hören wilt.

Wie manchen Tag, wie manche Nacht,
Wie manche liebe Zeit
Hab' ich mit Klagen durchgebracht,
Und du verlachst mein Leid!
Du weißt, du hörst, du hörst, du siehst die Schmerzen,
Und nimmst der' keinen doch zu Herzen,
So daß ich zweifle fast,
Ob du ein Herze hast.

 ... 

Text Authorship:

  • by Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640), appears in Geistliche und weltliche Poemata, Jena, first published 1651

Go to the general single-text view

by Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640)
1. To the proud woman
Language: English 
Nevertheless, I can do nothing else:
I must be well-disposed to her,
even if her eyes' proud light
begrudges me their shine.
I will, I should, I should, I must love you;
therefore, we both will be unhappy,
for my wish is in vain,
and you do not wish to hear it.

How many days, how many nights,
how much lovely time
have I spent in lamentation,
and you laugh at my grief!
You know, you hear, you hear and see my pain,
and take none of it to heart,
so that I am tempted to doubt
whether you even have a heart.

[ ... ]

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 Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640), appears in Geistliche und weltliche Poemata, Jena, first published 1651
    • 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: 32
Word count: 194

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Salamander
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Salamander", op. 107 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1888), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es saß ein Salamander
Auf einem kühlen Stein,
da warf ein böses Mädchen
Ins Feuer ihn hinein.

Sie meint', er soll verbrennen,
Ihm ward erst wohl zu Mut,
wohl wie mir kühlem Teufel
Die heiße Liebe tut.

Text Authorship:

  • by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Salamander", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 6. Vermischte Gedichte, first published 1861

Go to the general single-text view

by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913)
2. Salamander
Language: English 
There sat a salamander
upon a cold stone,
when a malicious girl 
threw him into the fire.

She thought he should burn up,
but he began to be of good cheer,
just as on me, a cold devil,
hot love operates.

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), "Salamander", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 6. Vermischte Gedichte, 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: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Das Mädchen spricht
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Das Mädchen spricht", op. 107 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3 (1886), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schwalbe, sag mir an,
Ist's dein alter Mann
Mit dem du's Nest gebaut,
Oder hast du jüngst erst
Dich ihm vertraut?

Sag', was zwitschert ihr, 
Sag', was flüstert ihr
Des Morgens so vertraut?
Gelt, du bist wohl auch noch 
Nicht lange Braut?

Text Authorship:

  • by Otto Friedrich Gruppe (1804 - 1876), no title, first published 1835

Go to the general single-text view

Confirmed with Gedichte von O. F. Gruppe, Gedruckt und verlegt bei G. Reimer, 1835, p. 55.

by Otto Friedrich Gruppe (1804 - 1876)
3. The maiden speaks
Language: English 
Swallow, tell me,
was it your old husband
with whom you built your nest,
or have you just recently
entrusted yourself to him?

Tell me what you twitter about,
tell me what you whisper about
in the mornings, so confidentially?
Eh? You haven't been
a bride for very long, have you?

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 Otto Friedrich Gruppe (1804 - 1876), no title, first published 1835
    • 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: 10
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Maienkätzchen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Maienkätzchen", op. 107 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4 (1886), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
Ich breche euch und stecke euch
An meinen alten Hut.

Maienkätzchen, erster Gruß,
Einst brach ich euch und steckte euch
Der Liebsten an den Hut.

Text Authorship:

  • by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909), "Tiefe Sehnsucht", appears in Adjudantenritte, in Liebeslied, no. 5

See other settings of this text.

by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
4. Catkins, first greeting
Language: English 
 Catkins, first greeting;
 I break you off and stick you
 in my old hat.

 Catkins, first greeting,
 Once I broke you off and stuck you
 in my sweetheart's hat.

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), "Tiefe Sehnsucht", appears in Adjudantenritte, in Liebeslied, no. 5
    • 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: 6
Word count: 30

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Mädchenlied
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Mädchenlied", op. 107 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5 (1886/7), published 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf die Nacht in den Spinnstuben
Da singen die Mädchen,
Da lachen die Dorfbuben,
Wie flink gehn die Rädchen!
 
Spinnt jedes am Brautschatz,
Daß der Liebste sich freut.
Nicht lange, so gibt es
Ein Hochzeitsgeläut.
 
Kein Mensch, der mir gut ist,
Will nach mir fragen.
Wie bang mir zu Muth ist,
Wem soll ich's klagen?
 
Die Thränen rinnen
Mir übers Gesicht --
Wofür soll ich spinnen,
Ich weiß es nicht!

Text Authorship:

  • by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914), no title, written 1872, appears in Gedichte, in Jugendlieder, in Mädchenlieder [uses numbering from 1872 edition], no. 1, first published 1885

See other settings of this text.

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
5. At night in the spinning rooms
Language: English 
At night in the spinning rooms,
there sing the maidens,
there laugh the village boys;
how quickly do the little wheels fly!

Every girl is spinning something for her dowry,
so that her lover will be glad.
It won't be long before there
are wedding bells pealing.

No one who is kind to me
asks after me.
How anxious my spirits are;
to whom can I lament my sorrows?

The tears run
down my face:
why should I spin?
I don't know!

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 Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914), no title, written 1872, appears in Gedichte, in Jugendlieder, in Mädchenlieder [uses numbering from 1872 edition], no. 1, first published 1885
    • 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: 16
Word count: 82

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

Donate

We use cookies for internal analytics and to earn much-needed advertising revenue. (Did you know you can help support us by turning off ad-blockers?) To learn more, see our Privacy Policy. To learn how to opt out of cookies, please visit this site.

I acknowledge the use of cookies

Contact
Copyright
Privacy

Copyright © 2025 The LiederNet Archive

Site redesign by Shawn Thuris