English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 86
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
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Du milchjunger Knabe, Wie schaust du mich an? Was haben deine Augen Für eine Frage getan! Alle Ratsherrn in der Stadt Und alle Weisen der Welt Bleiben stumm auf die Frage, Die deine Augen gestellt! Eine Meermuschel liegt Auf dem Schrank meiner Bas': Da halte dein Ohr d'ran, Dann hörst du etwas!
Text Authorship:
- by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Therese", appears in Neuere Gedichte, in Von Weibern - Alte Lieder, no. 3, first published 1851
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You milk-young boy, why do you look at me so? What a question your eyes have asked! All the councilmen in the town and all the wisemen in the world Would be struck dumb by the question that your eyes have posed! A seashell lies upon my cousin's cupboard; Press your ear to it; then you'll hear something!
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Therese", appears in Neuere Gedichte, in Von Weibern - Alte Lieder, no. 3, first published 1851
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 58
Ich ruhe still im hohen grünen Gras Und sende lange meinen Blick nach oben, Von Grillen rings umschwirrt ohn Unterlaß, Von Himmelsbläue wundersam umwoben. Die schönen weißen Wolken ziehn dahin Durchs tiefe Blau, wie schöne stille Träume; -- Mir ist, als ob ich längst gestorben bin, Und ziehe selig mit durch ew'ge Räume.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Allmers (1821 - 1902), "Feldeinsamkeit", Bremen, first published 1860
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I rest quietly in the tall green grass And for a long time send my gaze aloft, Surrounded by the unceasing whirr of crickets, Enfolded wondrously by blue sky. The lovely white clouds drift by Through the deep blue, like beautiful, silent dreams; I feel as though I am long dead And drift blissfully along through eternal space.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Elisabeth Siekhaus, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Allmers (1821 - 1902), "Feldeinsamkeit", Bremen, first published 1860
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This text was added to the website: 2008-06-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 58
Störe nicht den leisen Schlummer Dess, den lind ein Traum umfangen! Laß ihm seinen süßen Kummer! Ihm sein schmerzliches Verlangen! Sorgen und Gefahren drohen, Aber keine wird ihm schrecken, Kommst du nicht, den Schlafesfrohen Durch ein hartes Wort zu wecken. Still in seinen Traum versunken, Geht er über Abgrundtiefen, wie vom Licht des Vollmonds trunken, Weh' den Lippen, die ihn riefen!
Text Authorship:
- by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921), "Nachtwandler", appears in Nächte, in Aus Heimat und Fremde, first published 1878
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Disturb not the gentle slumber Of one encircled by a relieving dream! Leave him his sweet anguish! [Leave] him his painful yearning! Troubles and dangers may threaten, But none will frighten him; Do not come to the happily-sleeping man To awaken him through some harsh word. Silently lost in his dream, He traverses deep chasms, as if drunk from the full moon's light; Woe to the lips that would call out to 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921), "Nachtwandler", appears in Nächte, in Aus Heimat und Fremde, first published 1878
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
Über die Heide Hallet mein Schritt; Dumpf aus der Erde Wandert es mit. Herbst ist gekommen, Frühling ist weit -- Gab es denn einmal Selige Zeit? Brauende Nebel Geisten umher, Schwarz ist das Kraut Und der Himmel so leer. Wär' ich nur hier nicht Gegangen im Mai! Leben und Liebe -- Wie flog es vorbei!
Text Authorship:
- by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Über die Heide", first published 1868-9
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Across the heath my step resounds; The dull echo from the earth wanders with me. Autumn has arrived, Spring is far away - Was there once, then, a time of bliss? Brewing mists surround me like ghosts, Dark is the vegetation, and the sky so empty. Would that I had not come here in May! Life and love - how they flew by!
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Über die Heide", first published 1868-9
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 61
Es brausen der Liebe Wogen Und schäumen mir um das Herz; Zwei tiefe Augen zogen Mich mächtig niederwärts. Mich lockte der Nixen Gemunkel, Die wunderliebliche Mär, Als ob die Erde dunkel Und leuchtend die Tiefe wär'! Als würde die seligste Ferne Dort unten reizende Näh', Als könnt' ich des Himmels Sterne Dort greifen in blauer See. Nun brausen und schäumen die Wogen Und hüllen mich allwärts ein, Es schimmert in Regenbogen Die Welt von ferne herein.
The waves of love roar and foam around my heart; Two deep eyes drew me powerfully downward. I was lured by the chatter of the water sprites and their wondrous, lovely tales, as if the earth were dark and the depths were lit from beneath! As if the blissful far-off thing down there were appealingly near, As if I could grasp the stars of the sky down there in the blue sea. Now the waves roar and foam and gradually cover me up; In the rainbow glistens the world from far-away.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Felix Schumann (1854 - 1879)
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 91
Ach, wer nimmt von meiner Seele Die geheime, schwere Last, Die, je mehr ich sie verhehle, Immer mächtiger mich faßt? Möchtest du nur endlich brechen, Mein gequältes, banges Herz! Findest hier mit deinen Schwächen, Deiner Liebe, nichts als Schmerz. Dort nur wirst du ganz genesen, Wo der Sehnsucht nichts mehr fehlt, Wo das schwesterliche Wesen Deinem Wesen sich vermählt. Hör' es, Vater in der Höhe, Aus der Fremde fleht dein Kind: Gib', daß er mich bald umwehe, Deines Todes Lebenswind. Daß er zu dem Stern mich hebe, Wo man keine Trennung kennt, Wo die Geistersprache Leben Mit der Liebe Namen nennt.
Text Authorship:
- by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817), 1807, first published 1837
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Ah, who will take from my soul this secret, heavy burden that, the more I conceal, the more strongly it grips me? Don't you wish finally to break my tormented, anguished heart? You find here with your weaknesses, that your love is nothing but pain. You will only become fully healthy when you no longer lack the things you yearn for, when a sisterly nature becomes wedded to your own nature. Hear me, Father in the Heavens, In a foreign land, your child is pleading: Grant that he will surround me with the life-giving wind of Your death. That he will raise me to the stars, where one knows nothing of separation, where the spirit-language gives Life the name of 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817), 1807, first published 1837
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 121