English translations of Fünf Gedichte, opus 19

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Der Kuß
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der Kuß", op. 19 (Fünf Gedichte) no. 1 (1858), published 1862 [ voice and piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Unter Blüten des Mais spielt' ich mit ihrer Hand,
Koste liebend mit ihr, schaute mein schwebendes
Bild im Auge des Mädchens,
Raubt' ihr bebend den ersten Kuß.

Zuckend fliegt nun der Kuß, wie ein versengend Feu'r,
Mir durch Mark und Gebein. Du, die Unsterblichkeit
Durch die Lippen mir sprühte,
Wehe, wehe mir Kühlung zu!

Text Authorship:

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Note: this text was published posthumously in an altered form by Johann Heinrich Voss.

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776) and by Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
1. The kiss
Language: English 
Under the blossoms of May, I toyed with her hand,
Flirted lovingly with her, observed my floating
Reflection in the maiden's eye,
Stole tremblingly my first kiss.

Now that kiss flies twitchily through me like a scorching fire,
Through my marrow and my bones. Immortality have you
Sprinkled upon my lips;
Breathe now to cool them!

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: 8
Word count: 56

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Scheiden und Meiden
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Scheiden und Meiden", op. 19 (Fünf Gedichte) no. 2 (1858), published 1862 [ voice and piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So soll ich dich nun meiden,
Du meines Lebens Lust!
Du küssest mich zum Scheiden,
Ich drücke dich an die Brust!

Ach, Liebchen, heißt das meiden,
Wenn man sich herzt und küßt?
Ach, Liebchen, heißt das scheiden,
Wenn man sich fest umschließt?

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. Parting and separation
Language: English 
So now I must shun you,
You, my heart's joy!
You kiss me in parting,
I press you to my breast!

Ah, my love, is this called shunning,
When one embraces and kisses the other?
Ah, my love, is this called separation,
When one clings so firmly?

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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Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. In der Ferne
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "In der Ferne", op. 19 (Fünf Gedichte) no. 3 (1858), published 1862 [ voice and piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Will ruhen unter den Bäumen hier,
Die Vögelein hör' ich so gerne.
Wie singet ihr so zum Herzen mir!
Von unsrer Liebe was wisset ihr
In dieser weiten Ferne?

Will ruhen hier an des Baches Rand,
Wo duftige Blümlein sprießen.
Wer hat euch Blümlein, hierher gesandt?
Seid ihr ein herzliches Liebespfand
Aus der Ferne von meiner Süßen?

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. Far away
Language: English 
I will rest under the trees here,
I enjoy listening to the little birds so much;
How can your singing affect my heart so!
What do you know of our love,
In this far-off place?

I will rest here on the edge of the brook,
Where fragrant little flowers sprout.
Who has sent you little blossoms here?
Are you a heartfelt pledge of love
From my far-off sweetheart?

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: 10
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Der Schmied
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der Schmied", op. 19 (Fünf Gedichte) no. 4 (1859), published 1862 [ voice and piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hör' meinen Schatz,
Den Hammer er schwinget,
Das rauschet, das klinget,
Das dringt in die Weite,
Wie Glockengeläute,
Durch Gassen und Platz.

Am schwarzen Kamin,
Da sitzet mein Lieber,
Doch geh' ich vorüber,
Die Bälge dann sausen,
Die Flammen aufbrausen
Und lodern um ihn.

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Confirmed with: Uhlands Werke in drei Teilen, Erster Teil. Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year given], page 37.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
4. I hear my sweetheart
Language: English 
I hear my sweetheart -
The hammer he swings -
The rustling, the clinking,
Comes to me from afar,
Like the sound of bells,
Through streets and squares.

By the black fireplace
There my lover sits;
But if I pass by,
The bellows then whistle,
And the flames roar
And glow around him.

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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Line count: 12
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. An eine Äolsharfe
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An eine Äolsharfe", op. 19 (Fünf Gedichte) no. 5 (1858), published 1862 [ voice and piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Angelehnt an die Efeuwand 
Dieser alten Terrasse,
Du, einer luftgebor'nen Muse
Geheimnisvolles Saitenspiel,
Fang' an,
Fange wieder an 
Deine melodische Klage!
Ihr kommet, Winde, fern herüber,
Ach! von des Knaben,
Der mir so lieb war,
Frischgrünendem Hügel.
Und Frühlingsblüten unterweges streifend,
Übersättigt mit Wohlgerüchen,
Wie süß, wie süß bedrängt ihr dies Herz!
Und säuselt her in die Saiten,
Angezogen von wohllautender Wehmut,
Wachsend im Zug meiner Sehnsucht,
Und hinsterbend wieder.
Aber auf einmal,
Wie der Wind heftiger herstößt,
Ein holder Schrei der Harfe
Wiederholt mir zu süßem Erschrecken
Meiner Seele plötzliche Regung,
Und hier, die volle Rose streut geschüttelt
All' ihre Blätter vor meine Füße!

Text Authorship:

  • by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), from Gedichtsammlung, first published 1838

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Note: the poem is preceded by a quotation from Horace:
   Tu semper urges fleblilibus modis
   Mysten ademptum: nec tibi Vespere
   Surgente decedunt amores,
   Nec rapidum fugiente Solem.
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
5. To an aeolian harp
Language: English 
Leaning up against the ivy-covered wall
Of this old terrace,
You, an air-borne muse,
A lute-melody full of mystery,
Begin,
Begin again,
Your melodious lament!
You come, winds, from far away,
Ah! from the boy 
Who was so dear to me,
From his hill so freshly green.
On your way, streaking over spring blossoms
Saturated with sweet scents,
How sweetly, how sweetly you besiege my heart!
You rustle the strings here,
Drawn by harmonious melancholy,
Growing louder in the pull of my longing,
And then dying down again.
But all at once,
The wind blows violently
And a lovely cry of the harp
Echoes, to my sweet terror,
The sudden stirring of my soul,
And here, the ample rose shakes and strews
All its petals at my feet!

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: 25
Word count: 128

Translation © by Emily Ezust