English translations of Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 49

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Am Sonntag Morgen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Am Sonntag Morgen", op. 49 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1869 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Sonntag Morgen, zierlich angethan,
Wohl weiß ich, wo du da bist hingegangen,
Und manche Leute waren, die dich sahn,
Und kamen dann zu mir, dich zu verklagen.
Als sie mir's sagten, hab' ich laut gelacht
Und in der Kammer dann geweint zur Nacht.
Als sie mir's sagten, fing ich an zu singen,
Um einsam dann die Hände wund zu ringen.

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by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
1. On Sunday morning, dressed so gracefully
Language: English 
On Sunday morning, dressed so gracefully,
 Well do I know where you went,
And there were many people who saw you
And came then to me to complain about you.
When they told me, I laughed loudly,
 But then in my room, I wept the night.
When they told me, I began to sing,
 But then afterwards, alone, I wrung my hands raw.

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:

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    from the LiederNet Archive

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This text was added to the website: 2015-09-16
Line count: 8
Word count: 63

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2. An ein Veilchen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An ein Veilchen", op. 49 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1871 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Birg, o Veilchen, in deinem blauen Kelche,
Birg die Tränen der Wehmut, bis mein Liebchen
Diese Quelle besucht! Entpflückt sie lächelnd
Dich dem Rasen, die Brust mit dir zu schmücken.
O dann schmiege dich ihr ans Herz, und sag ihr,
Daß die Tropfen in deinem blauen Kelche
Aus der Seele des treu'sten Jünglings flossen,
Der sein Leben verweinet, und den Tod wünscht.

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by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
2. To a violet
Language: English 
 Hide, o violet, in your blue calyx -
 Hide my melancholy tears, until my darling
 Visits this spring! If she smilingly picks
 You from the grass to adorn her bosom with you,
 Oh then nestle yourself to her heart, and tell her
 That those drops in your blue calyx
 Flowed from the soul of the truest youth,
 Who is weeping away his life and wishes for death.

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

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This text was added to the website: 2003-11-04
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3. Sehnsucht
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Sehnsucht", op. 49 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1868), published 1868, first performed 1870 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hinter jenen dichten Wäldern
Weilst du meine Süßgeliebte
Weit ach weit, weit ach weit!
Berstet ihr Felsen,
Ebnet euch Täler,
Daß ich ersehe,
Daß ich erspähe
Meine ferne, süße Maid!

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by Josef Wenzig (1807 - 1876)
3. Yearning
Language: English 
 Behind those thick woods
 You stay, my sweet beloved,
 Far, oh far away!
 Shatter, you rocks,
 Be leveled, you valleys,
 That I might see,
 That I might glimpse
 My sweet, far-off maiden!

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

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Line count: 8
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 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

4. Wiegenlied 
Guten Abend, gut'  Nacht, 
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt,
Schlupf' unter die Deck,
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.

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Confirmed with Achim von Arnim und Clemens Brentano, Des Knaben Wunderhorn, Band 3, Stuttgart, 1979, page 304.

Note provided by Laura Prichard: Brahms gentle Wiegenlied, op. 49, no. 4, was dedicated to his youthful [girl]friend, Bertha Faber, née Porubsky. Although it was composed to celebrate the birth of her second son, it may contain a touching, bittersweet farewell to Bertha herself, who became a regular alto chorister in the women’s choir Brahms conducted in Hamburg before her marriage. Bertha and the twenty-six-year-old Brahms exchanged many letters, and he was a frequent [chaperoned] dinner guest in her home in 1859. This cradle song’s famous melody was intended to act as a harmony part to the Austrian duet "S’Is Anderscht" (1842) by Alexander Baumann (1814-1857), which Johannes and Bertha sang together in her family parlour. Baumann’s melody is preserved in the piano introduction: its original text is "Du moanst wol di Liab last si zwinga" [Do you think that love can be forced], and continues "Zatrist wo a Bleamle, steht’s nimmermer auf" [if you trample a flower it’ll never rise again]. Brahms sent the published lullaby to Bertha’s husband in Vienna, confessing "Frau Bertha will realize that I wrote the Wiegenlied for her little one. She will find it quite in order that while she is singing Hans to sleep, a love song is being sung to her."


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
Von Englein bewacht.
Die zeigen im Traum
Dir Christkindleins Baum
Schlaf nun selig und süß, 
Schau im Traum's Paradies.

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Author(s): Georg Scherer (1824 - 1909), Volkslieder (Folksongs)
4. Good evening, good night
Good evening, good night,
Bedecked with roses,
Covered with carnations,
Slip under the blanket
Early tomorrow, God willing,
Will you be woken again.

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:

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Good evening, good night,
Guarded by angels,
Who indicate to you by dream
The tree of the Christ child:
Sleep now blissfully and sweetly,
Behold Paradise in your dreams.

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,
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Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Abenddämmerung
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Abenddämmerung", op. 49 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 5 (1867), published 1868 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sei willkommen, Zwielichtstunde!
Dich vor allen lieb' ich längst,
Die du, lindernd jede Wunde,
Unsre Seele mild umfängst.

Hin durch deine Dämmerhelle,
In den Lüften, abendfeucht,
Schweben Bilder, die der grelle
Schein des lauten Tags gescheucht.

Träume und Erinnerungen
Nahen aus der Kinderzeit,
Flüstern mit den Geisterzungen
Von vergangner Seligkeit.

Und zu Jugendlust-Genossen
Kehren wir ins Vaterhaus;
Arme, die uns einst umschlossen,
Breiten neu sich nach uns aus.

Nach dem Trennungsschmerz, dem langen,
Dürfen wir noch einmal nun
Denen, die dahingegangen,
Am geliebten Herzen ruhn;

Und indes zum Augenlide
Sanft der Schlummer niederrint,
Sinkt auf uns ein sel'ger Friede
Aus dem Land, wo jene sind.

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by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894)
5. Twilight
Language: English 
Be welcome, hour of twilight!
Long have I loved you above all;
You soothe every wound,
Gently embracing our souls.

Throughout your dusky brightness
In the air, damp with evening dew,
Hover images that the glaring
Light of the noisy day dispells.

Dreams and memories
Approach from childhood times,
Whispering with ghostly tongues
 Of past happiness.

And to the comrades of our youthful pleasures
We turn in our father's house;
Arms that once embraced us
Are open wide to us again.

After the long pain of separation,
We may once again
Be with those who have gone hence,
And rest among beloved hearts;

And until upon our eyelids
Slumber gently flows down,
A blessed peace sinks down upon us
From the land where our friends are.

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: 24
Word count: 126

Translation © by Emily Ezust