English translations of Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 47

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Botschaft
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Botschaft", op. 47 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1871 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wehe, Lüftchen, lind und lieblich
Um die Wange der Geliebten, 
Spiele zart in ihrer Locke,
Eile nicht hinwegzufliehn!
Tut sie dann vielleicht die Frage,
Wie es um mich Armen stehe;
Sprich: »Unendlich war sein Wehe,
Höchst bedenklich seine Lage;
Aber jetzo kann er hoffen,
Wieder herrlich aufzuleben,
Denn du, Holde, denkst an ihn.«

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
1. Blow, Breeze, gently and lovingly
Language: English 
Blow, Breeze, gently and lovingly
about the cheeks of my beloved;
play tenderly in her locks,
do not hasten to flee far away !
If perhaps she is then to ask,
how it stands with poor wretched me,
tell her: "Unending was his woe,
highly dubious was his condition;
However, now he can hope
magnificently to come to life again.
For you, lovely one, are thinking of 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.


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This text was added to the website: 2003-11-14
Line count: 11
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Liebesglut
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Liebesglut", op. 47 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1888 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Die Flamme hier, die wilde, zu verhehlen,
Die Schmerzen alle, welche mich zerquälen,
Vermag ich es, da alle Winde ringsum
Die Gründe meiner Traurigkeit erzählen?

  Daß ich ein Stäubchen deines Weges stäube,
Wie magst du doch, o sprich, wie darfst du schmählen?
Verklage dich, verklage das Verhängnis,
Das waltet über alle Menschenseelen!

  Da selbiges verordnete, das ew'ge,
Wie alle sollten ihre Wege wählen,
Da wurde deinem Lockenhaar der Auftrag,
Mir Ehre, Glauben und Vernunft zu stehlen.

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by Georg Friedrich Daumer (1800 - 1875)
2. Embers of love
Language: English 
 To conceal this flame here, this wild flame,
 And all the pains that torment me,
 Have I the power, when all the winds that blow about me
 Recount the causes of my sorrow?

 That I would strew even one grain of dust on your path,
 How could you - o tell me - how can you slander me?
 Accuse yourself, accuse the destiny
 That reigns over all human souls!

 Since that same eternal destiny ordained
 That all shall select their own paths,
 The locks of your hair were instructed
 To steal from me my honor, beliefs and reason.

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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This text was added to the website: 2003-11-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Sonntag
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Sonntag", op. 47 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1859), published 1868, first performed 1871 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So hab' ich doch die ganze Woche
Mein feines Liebchen nicht geseh'n, 
Ich sah es an einem Sonntag
Wohl vor der Türe steh'n:
  Das tausendschöne Jungfräulein,
  Das tausendschöne Herzelein,
  Wollte Gott, wollte Gott, ich wär' heute bei ihr!

So will mir doch die ganze Woche
Das Lachen nicht vergeh'n, 
Ich sah es an einem Sonntag
 Wohl in die Kirche geh'n: 
  Das tausendschöne Jungfräulein,
  Das tausendschöne Herzelein,
  Wollte Gott, wollte Gott, ich wär' heute bei ihr!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862), "Sonntag", Alte hoch- und niederdeutsche Volkslieder, Stuttgart and Tübingen, first published 1844-5

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. Sunday
Language: English 
This whole week, I have not
Seen my delicate sweetheart.
I saw her on Sunday,
Standing in front of the door:
That thousand-times beautiful girl,
That thousand-times beautiful heart,
Would, God, I were with her today!

This whole week, my laughing
Has not ceased;
I saw her on Sunday,
Going to church:
That thousand-times beautiful girl,
That thousand-times beautiful heart,
Would, God, I were with her today!

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. O liebliche Wangen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "O liebliche Wangen", op. 47 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 4 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1887 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O liebliche Wangen,
Ihr macht mir Verlangen,
Dies rote, dies weiße 
Zu schauen mit Fleiße.
Und dies nur alleine 
Ist's nicht, was ich meine;
Zu schauen, zu grüssen,
Zu rühren, zu küssen!
Ihr macht mir Verlangen,
O liebliche Wangen!

O Sonne der Wonne!
O Wonne der Sonne!
O Augen, so saugen
Das Licht meiner Augen.
O englische Sinnen!
O himmlisch Beginnen!
O Himmel auf Erden,
Magst du mir nicht werden,
O Wonne der Sonne!
O Sonne der Wonne!

O Schönste der Schönen!
Benimm mir dies Sehnen,
Komm, eile, komm, komme,
Du süße, du fromme!
Ach, Schwester, ich sterbe,
Ich sterb', ich verderbe,
Komm, komme, komm, eile,
Benimm mir dies Sehnen,
O Schönste der Schönen!

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by Paul Fleming (1609 - 1640)
4. O lovely cheeks
Language: English 
O lovely cheeks,
You make me want to
Gaze diligently
On this red, this white.
And this alone 
Is not what I mean;
To behold, to greet,
To touch, to kiss! 
You make me desirous,
O lovely cheeks!

O sun of ecstasy!
O ecstasy of the sun!
 O eyes, suck
The light of my eyes.
O angelic thoughts!
 O heavenly beginnings!
O Heaven on earth,
May you not become for me,
O ecstasy of the sun!
O sun of ecstasy!

O fairest of the fair!
Take away from me this longing,
Come, hurry, come, come!
You sweet, innocent soul!
Ah, sister, I am dying,
I am dying, I am ruined,
Come, come, come, hurry.
Take away from me this longing,
O fairest of the fair!

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 29
Word count: 125

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Die Liebende schreibt
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Liebende schreibt", op. 47 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 5 (1858), first performed 1893
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Blick von deinen Augen in die meinen,
Ein Kuß von deinem Mund auf meinem Munde,
Wer davon hat, wie ich, gewisse Kunde,
Mag dem was anders wohl erfreulich scheinen?

Entfernt von dir, entfremdet von den Meinen,
Führ' ich stets die Gedanken in die Runde,
Und immer treffen sie auf jene Stunde,
Die einzige: da fang' ich an zu weinen.

Die Thräne trocknet wieder unversehens:
Er liebt ja, denk' ich, her in diese Stille,
Und solltest du nicht in die Ferne reichen?

Vernimm das Lispeln dieses Liebewehens;
Mein einzig Glück auf Erden ist dein Wille,
Dein freundlicher zu mir; gib mir ein Zeichen!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Liebende schreibt", written 1807-08, 8th sonnet of Sämtliche Gedichte, first published 1815

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. The loving woman writes
Language: English 
One look from your eyes into mine,
One kiss from your lips on my lips,
Can one who has certain knowledge of these, as I,
Take pleasure in anything else?

Far from you, separated from my loved ones,
I let my thoughts roam constantly,
And always they alight upon that one
Single hour: and I begin to weep.

Suddenly my tears are dried:
He loves indeed, I reflect, here in this stillness,
Oh, should you not reach out to me in the far distance?

Hear these whispered words of love
My sole happiness on earth is your goodwill to me;
Give me a sign!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Die Liebende schreibt" = "The loving woman writes"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 104

Translation © by David Gordon