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English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 86

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Therese
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Therese", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1878)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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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by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890)
1. You milk-young boy, why do you look at me so?
Language: English 
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 Archive

    For 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 Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Therese", appears in Neuere Gedichte, in Von Weibern - Alte Lieder, no. 3, first published 1851
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 58

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Feldeinsamkeit
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Feldeinsamkeit", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2 (1879?) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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

See other settings of this text.

by Hermann Allmers (1821 - 1902)
2. Solitude in a field
Language: English 
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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Allmers (1821 - 1902), "Feldeinsamkeit", Bremen, first published 1860
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2008-06-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 58

Translation © by Elisabeth Siekhaus
3. Nachtwandler
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Nachtwandler", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3 (1877?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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

Go to the general single-text view

by Max Kalbeck (1850 - 1921)
3. Night wanderer
Language: English 
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 Archive

    For 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
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Über die Heide
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Über die Heide", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1882
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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

See other settings of this text.

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
4. Across the Heath
Language: English 
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 Archive

    For 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
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Versunken
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Versunken", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5 (1873)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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.

Text Authorship:

  • by Felix Schumann (1854 - 1879)

Go to the general single-text view

by Felix Schumann (1854 - 1879)
5. Drowned
Language: English 
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 Archive

    For 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)
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 91

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Todessehnen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Todessehnen", op. 86 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1878)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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

Go to the general single-text view

by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817)
6. Yearning for death
Language: English 
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 Archive

    For 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 text page.

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

Translation © by Emily Ezust
Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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