English translations of Acht Lieder und Gesänge, opus 58

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Blindekuh
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Blindekuh", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 1 (1871), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Finstern geh' ich suchen,
Mein Kind, wo steckst du wohl?
Ach, sie versteckt sich immer,
Daß ich verschmachten soll!

Im Finstern geh' ich suchen,
Mein Kind, wo steckst du wohl?
Ich, der den Ort nicht finde,
Ich irr' im Kreis umher!

Wer um dich stirbt,
Der hat keine Ruh'!
Kindchen erbarm dich,
Und komm herzu! 
Ja, komm herzu,
Herzu, herzu!

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by August Kopisch (1799 - 1853)
1. Blind man's bluff
Language: English 
In darkness I go searching,
My child, where have you hidden yourself?
Oh, she always hides,
And I shall pine away!

In darkness I go searching,
My child, where have you hidden yourself?
I, who never find the hiding-place,
I wander around in a circle!

He who dies for you,
He will have no peace.
Child, have pity
And come here!
Yes, come here,
Here, here!

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: 14
Word count: 66

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2. Während des Regens
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Während des Regens", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 2, published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Voller, dichter tropft um's Dach da,
Tropfen süßer Regengüsse;
Meines Liebchens holde Küsse,
Mehren sich, je mehr ihr tropfet!
Tropft ihr, -- darf ich sie umfassen,
Laßt ihr's, -- will sie mich entlassen,
Himmel, werde nur nicht lichter,
Tropfen, tropfet immer dichter!

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by August Kopisch (1799 - 1853)
2. During the rain
Language: English 
Drip more fully, more heavily on that roof there,
You drops of sweet rainshowers!
My darling's tender kisses
Increase the more you drip!
As you drip, I am permitted to embrace her;
If you stop, she'll leave me.
Sky, do not become lighter,
Drops, drip even more heavily!

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
Word count: 48

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3. Die Spröde
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Spröde", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 3, published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich sahe eine Tig'rin
Im dunkeln Haine,
Und doch mit meinen Tränen
Konnt' ich sie zähmen.

Sah auch die harten Steine,
Ja Marmelsteine,
Erweicht vom Fall der Tropfen
Gestalt annehmen.

Und du, so eine zarte,
Holdsel'ge Kleine,
Du lachst zu meinem Seufzen
Und bittern Grämen.

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by August Kopisch (1799 - 1853)
3. The aloof woman
Language: English 
I saw a tigress
In the dark grove,
And yet with my tears
I could tame her.

I also saw that hard stones,
Even marble,
Softened by the fall of drops,
Assume new shapes.

Yet you, such a delicate,
lovely little girl,
You laugh at my sighs
And bitter suffering.

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: 12
Word count: 50

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4. O komme, holde Sommernacht
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "O komme, holde Sommernacht", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 4 (1871), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O komme, holde Sommernacht,
Verschwiegen;
Dich hat die Liebe recht gemacht
Zum Siegen!

Da brechen manche Knospen los,
Verstohlen,
Da öffnen ihren süßen Schoß
Violen;

Da neigt ihr Haupt im Dämmerschein
Die Rose,
Da wird mein Liebchen auch noch mein,
Das lose!

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by Melchior Grohe (1829 - 1906)
4. O come, lovely summer night
Language: English 
O come, lovely summer night,
Yet secretly;
Love has justly made you
A time for conquest!

It is then that many buds are broken off,
Stealthily;
It is then that their sweet shoots are opened
By violets;

It is then that in the afterglow,
The roses incline their heads;
It is then that my sweetheart surely shall be mine,
The loose girl!

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: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Schwermut
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Schwermut", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 5 (1871), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mir ist so weh ums Herz,
Mir ist, als ob ich weinen möchte
Vor Schmerz!
Gedankensatt
Und lebensmatt
Möcht' ich das Haupt hinlegen
in die Nacht der Nächte!

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by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872)
5. Melancholy
Language: English 
My heart is so heavy,
It seems to me that I want to weep
For pain!
Satiated by thinking,
And weary of life,
I'd like to lay down my head
In that Night of all Nights!

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: 7
Word count: 36

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6. In der Gasse
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "In der Gasse", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 6 (1868?), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich blicke hinab in die Gasse,
Dort drüben hat sie gewohnt;
Das öde, verlassene Fenster,
Wie hell bescheint's der Mond.

Es gibt so viel zu beleuchten;
O holde Strahlen des Lichts,
Was webt ihr denn gespenstisch
Um jene Stätte des Nichts!

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by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
6. In the lane
Language: English 
I gaze down the lane:
Over there, she used to live;
That desolate, abandoned window,
How brightly does the moon shine on it!

There is so much to illuminate;
Oh lovely beams of light,
Why do you weave so eerily
About this place of nothingness?

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
Word count: 45

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7. Vorüber
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Vorüber", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 7 (1867?), published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich legte mich unter den Lindenbaum,
  In dem die Nachtigall schlug;
Sie sang mich in den süßesten Traum,
  Der währte auch lange genug.

Denn nun ich erwache, nun ist sie fort,
  Und welk bedeckt mich das Laub;
Doch leider noch nicht, wie am dunklern Ort,
  Verglühte Asche der Staub.

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by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
7. Past
Language: English 
I lay myself down beneath the linden tree,
  In which the nightingale was singing;
She sang me into the sweetest dream,
  Which lasted quite a long time.

But now I've awakened, and she is gone;
  And I am covered with wilted leaves,
But sadly not yet, as in that darker place,
  Does dust cover [these] burned-out ashes.

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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Last line revised 2009/11/04 thanks to a kind suggestion by Kelly Dean Hansen


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Emily Ezust
8. Serenade
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Serenade", op. 58 (Acht Lieder und Gesänge) no. 8, published 1872, stanzas 1-4,7-9 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken,
Rauscht der Nachtwind, teure Frau!
Leise in das Marmorbecken
Gießt der Brunnen seinen Tau.

Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend,
Kreise neben Kreise zieht,
Also zittert, leise klopfend,
Mir das Herz bei diesem Lied.

Schwingt euch, Töne meiner Zither,
Schwingt euch aufwärts, flügelleicht;
Durch das rebumkränzte Gitter
In der Schönen Kammer schleicht.

»Ist denn, liebliche Dolores«,
Also singt in ihren Traum -
»In der Muschel deines Ohres
Für kein Perlenwörtchen Raum?

 ... 

O dem Freund nur eine Stunde,
Wo dein Arm ihn heiß umschlingt,
Und der Kuß von deinem Munde
Feurig bis ans Herz ihm dringt!

Hast du ihn so ganz vergessen?
Einsam harrt er am Balkon,
Überm Wipfel der Zypressen
Bleicht des Mondes Sichel schon.

Wie das Wasser, niedertropfend,
Kreise neben Kreise zieht,
Also zittert, leise klopfend,
Ihm das Herz bei diesem Lied.«

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by Adolf Friedrich, Graf von Schack (1815 - 1894)
8. Serenade
Language: English 
Gently, so as not to awaken you,
Rustles the night wind, dear woman!
Quietly into the marble basin
The fountain pours its dew.

As the water, dripping down,
Draws circle after circle,
So, gently pounding, does my heart
Tremble at this song.

Vibrate, o sounds of my zither,
Float upwards, on light wings;
Through the vine-wreathed lattice
Slip into my darling's boudoir.

"Is there then, my lovely Dolores,"
sing to her in her dream -
"In the mussel-shell of your ears,
Is there no room for pearl-like little words?

[ ... ]

O give your friend [one more]1 hour,
When your arms enfold him [thus]2,
And a kiss from your mouth 
Pierces his heart like fire!

Have you so completely forgotten him?
Alone, he awaits you on the balcony;
Over the tops of the cypresses
The sickle-moon is already turning pale.

As the water, dripping down,
Draws circle after circle,
So, gently pounding, does his heart
Tremble at this song.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1998 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 in the Brahms version, "just one"
2 in the Brahms version, "warmly"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 203

Translation © by Emily Ezust