English translations of Fünf Gesänge, opus 71

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze", op. 71 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 1, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Wellen blinken und fließen dahin,
Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Am Flusse sitzet die Schäferin 
Und windet die zärtlichsten Kränze.

Das knospet und quillt und duftet und blüht,
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Die Schäferin seufzt aus tiefer Brust:
»Wem geb' ich meine Kränze?«

Ein Reiter reitet den Fluß entlang,
er grüßet so blühenden Mutes,
die Schäferin schaut ihm nach so bang,
fern flattert die Feder des Hutes.

Sie weint und wirft in den gleitenden Fluß
die schönen Blumenkränze.
Die Nachtigall singt von Lieb' und Kuß,
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!

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Note: in later editions, Heine changed "quillt und duftet und blüht" to "quillt, mit duftender Lust" in stanza 2, line 1. In addition, "vollem Gemüt" was changed to "tiefer Brust" in stanza 2, line 3.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
The waves flash and flow in;
Love is so lovely in Spring!
By the river the shepherdess sits
And weaves delicate crowns of wreaths.

The budding, the [streaming, the wafting, and blossoming]1 -
Love is so lovely in spring!
The shepherdess sighs [with a full heart]2:
"To whom shall I give my wreaths?"

A horseman rides along the river:
he greets her with radiant cheer,
the shepherdess gazes at him shyly,
and far in the distance the feather flutters in his cap.

She weeps and throws into the gliding river
those lovely wreaths of flowers.
The nightingale sings of love and kisses;
Love is so lovely in the spring!

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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1 Stanford: "the streaming, with joyous, wafting fragrances"
2 Brahms, Stanford: "from deep in her bosom"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. An den Mond
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "An den Mond", op. 71 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 2 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Silbermond mit bleichen Strahlen
pflegst du Wald und Feld zu malen,
gibst den Bergen, gibst den Talen 
der Empfindung Seufzer ein.

Sei Vertrauter meiner Schmerzen,
Segler in der Lüfte See:
Sag' ihr, die ich trag' im Herzen,
wie mich tötet Liebesweh.

Sag' ihr, über tausend Meilen
sehne sich mein Herz nach ihr.
»Keine Ferne kann es heilen,
nur ein holder Blick von dir.«

Sag' ihr, daß zu Tod getroffen
diese Hülle bald zerfällt;
nur ein schmeichlerisches Hoffen
sei's, das sie zusammenhält.

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by Karl Joseph Simrock (1802 - 1876)
2. To the moon
Language: English 
 Silver moon with pale rays,
 you often paint the forest and field;
 you give the mountains, you give the valleys
 a sigh of feeling.

 Be the confidant of my sorrows,
 sailor on the sea of the air:
 Tell her, whom I carry in my heart,
 how yearning for love is killing me.

 Tell her that over a thousand miles
 my heart pines for her.
 "No distance can heal it,
 only a loving glance from you."

 Tell her that I have been struck mortally
 and my body soon shall fall;
 only a flattering hope
 keeps me together.

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: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Geheimnis
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Geheimnis", op. 71 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 3 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Frühlingsabenddämmerung!
O laues, lindes Weh'n,
Ihr Blütenbäume, sprecht, was tut
ihr so zusammensteh'n?

Vertraut ihr das Geheimnis euch
Von uns'rer Liebe süß?
Was flüstert ihr ein ander zu
Von uns'rer Liebe süß?

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by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872)
3. Secret
Language: English 
O spring's evening twilight!
O mild, gently breezes,
You blossoming trees, speak - what are you doing,
standing so close together?

Do you confide to one another
the secret of our sweet love?
What do you whisper to one another
about our sweet love?

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: 8
Word count: 43

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Willst du, daß ich geh'?
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Willst du, daß ich geh'?", op. 71 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 4 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf der Heide weht der Wind -
Herzig Kind, herzig Kind -
Willst du, daß trotz Sturm und Graus
In die Nacht ich muß hinaus -
Willst du, daß ich geh'?

Auf der Heid' zu Bergeshöh'
Treibt der Schnee, treibt der Schnee;
Feget Straßen, Schlucht und Teich
Mit den weißen Flügeln gleich.
Willst du, daß ich geh'?

Horch, wie klingt's herauf vom See
Wild und weh, wild und weh!
An den Weiden sitzt die Fei
Und mein Weg geht dort vorbei -
Willst du, daß ich geh'?

Wie ist's hier in deinem Arm
Traut und warm, traut und warm;
Ach, wie oft hab' ich gedacht:
So bei dir nur eine Nacht -
Willst du, daß ich geh'?

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by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913)
4. Do you wish me to go?
Language: English 
 On the heath blows the wind -
 Sweet child, sweet child -
 do you wish me, despite the storm and horror,
 to go out into the night -
 do you wish me to go?

 On the heath at the top of the mountain
 Piles the snow, piles the snow;
 It sweeps the street, the gorge and pool alike
 with white wings.
 Do you wish me to go?

 Hark! the sound of the sea
 is wild and woeful, wild and woeful!
 By the willows sits an evil sprite
 and my path goes past that place -
 Do you wish me to go?

 For here in your arms,
 how cosy and warm, cosy and warm;
 Ah, how often have I thought:
 if only I could have just one night with you...
 Do you wish me to go?

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: 20
Word count: 132

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Minnelied
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Minnelied", op. 71 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 5 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Holder klingt der Vogelsang,
Wann die Engelreine, 
Die mein Jünglingsherz bezwang,
Wandelt durch die Haine.

Röther blühen Thal und Au,
Grüner wird der Wasen,
Wo die Finger meiner Frau
Maienblumen lasen.

Ohne sie ist alles todt,
Welk sind Blüt' und Kräuter;
Und kein Frühlingsabendroth
Dünkt mir schön und heiter.

Traute, minnigliche Frau,
Wollest nimmer fliehen;
Daß mein Herz, gleich dieser Au,
Mög' in Wonne blühen!

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Note: This is the version as published by Voß. The initial version of this poem, according to Hölty's manuscript, has one more stanza and is quite different (see below).

Note: According to Neue Gesamtausgabe Schubert set only stanzas 1 and 2, in his autograph he crossed out the repeat mark at the end.

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
5. Delightfully sound the birdsongs
Language: English 
Delightfully sound the birdsongs
when the pure angel
who conquered my young heart
wanders through the wood.

Redder bloom the valleys and meadows,
Greener becomes the grass
where the fingers of my lady
Are picking little mayflowers.

Without her, everything is dead.
Blossoms and herbs are wilted;
and no spring sunset
would seem to me as fair and fine.

Darling, lovely woman,
Never wish to flee;
that my heart, as well as this meadow,
might bloom in joy!

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: 16
Word count: 78

Translation © by Emily Ezust