English translations of Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte, opus 94

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

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1. Mit vierzig Jahren
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Mit vierzig Jahren", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1883/4), published 1884 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit vierzig Jahren ist der Berg erstiegen,
Wir stehen still und schaun zurück;
Dort sehen wir der Kindheit stilles liegen
Und dort der Jugend lautes Glück.

Noch einmal schau', und dann gekräftigt weiter
Erhebe deinen Wanderstab!
Hindehnt ein Bergesrücken sich ein breiter
Und hier nicht, drüben gehts hinab.

Nicht athmend aufwärts brauchst du mehr zu steigen,
Die Ebene zieht von selbst dich fort;
Dann wird sie sich mit dir unmerklich neigen,
Und eh du's denkst, bist du im Port.

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First published in Deutscher Musenalmanach, 1883.

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1. At forty years
Language: English 
 At forty years, the mountain has been climbed,
 we stand still and look back;
 there we see our childhood lying quietly,
 and there the noisy happiness of youth.

 Look once more, and then, strengthened again,
 Heft your walking-stick!
  Stretching before you is a mountain ridge - a broad one -
 and not here, but farther along, it begins to go downward.

 Without breathing, you need to climb farther upwards,
 for the plain will pull you forward itself;
 then it will slope downward imperceptibly with you,
 And before you think about it, you will be in port.

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: 95

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Steig auf, geliebter Schatten
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Steig auf, geliebter Schatten", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2 (1883/4), published 1884 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Steig auf, geliebter Schatten,
Vor mir in toter Nacht,
Und lab mich Todesmatten
Mit deiner Nähe Macht!

Du hast's gekonnt im Leben,
Du kannst es auch im Tod.
Sich nicht dem Schmerz ergeben,
War immer dein Gebot.

So komm, still meine Tränen,
Gib meiner Seele Schwung,
Und Kraft den welken Sehnen,
Und mach mich wieder jung.

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by Eligius Franz Joseph, Freiherr von Münch-Bellinghausen (1806 - 1871), as Friedrich Halm
2. Rise, beloved shade
Language: English 
Rise, beloved shade,
before me in the dead night,
and comfort my deathly feebleness
with the strength of your presence!

You could do this in life;
you can do it again in death.
Not to surrender to pain,
was always your command.

So come, still my tears,
give vigour to my soul
and strength to my weakened sinews,
and make me young 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:

    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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Note: 2015-01-28 changed stanza 3 line 3 from "faded longing" to "weakened sinews". With thanks to Lau Kanen and Bertram Kottmann.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mein Herz ist schwer
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Mein Herz ist schwer", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3 (1883/4), published 1884 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist schwer, mein Auge wacht,
Der Wind fährt seufzend durch die Nacht;
Die Wipfel rauschen weit und breit,
Sie rauschen von vergangner Zeit.

Sie rauschen von vergangner Zeit,
Von großen Glück und Herzeleid,
Vom Schloß und von der Jungfrau drin -
Wo ist das alles, alles hin?

Wo ist das alles, alles hin,
Leid, Lieb' und Lust und Jugendsinn?
Der Wind fährt seufzend durch die Nacht,
Mein Herz ist schwer, mein Auge wacht.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. My heart is heavy
Language: English 
My heart is heavy, my eyes are awake,
the wind goes sighing through the night.
The treetops rustle back and forth;
they whisper of times gone by.

They whisper of times gone by,
of great happiness and heartache,
of the castle and the maidens inside -
where has all of it gone?

Where has all of it gone?
sorrow, love and joy, and youthful thoughts?
The wind goes sighing through the night,
My heart is heavy, my eyes are awake.

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: 79

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Sapphische Ode
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Sapphische Ode", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1884), published 1884 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Rosen brach ich nachts mir am dunklen Hage;
Süßer hauchten Duft sie als je am Tage;
Doch verstreuten reich die bewegten Äste
Tau, der mich näßte.

Auch der Küsse Duft mich wie nie berückte,
Die ich nachts vom Strauch deiner Lippen pflückte:
Doch auch dir, bewegt im Gemüt gleich jenen,
Tauten die Tränen.

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by Hans Schmidt (1854 - 1923)
4. Ode in Sapphic metre
Language: English 
Roses that I plucked in the midnight garden
smelt more sweet than in any daylight hour;
but there fell down from the moving branches
dew, as a gentle shower.

So the kiss I plucked in the darkness boldly
out-perfumed the sweetest blooms I knew.
And so moved were you that I felt on my shoulder
teardrops like a gentle dew.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Peter Low, (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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Translation of title "Sapphische Ode" = "Ode in Sapphic metre"


This text was added to the website: 2015-11-26
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Peter Low
5. Kein Haus, keine Heimat
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Kein Haus, keine Heimat", op. 94 (Fünf Lieder für 1 tiefe Stimme -- für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5 (1884), published 1884, stanzas 2-3 [ low voice or high voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

Kein Haus, keine Heimat,
Kein Weib und kein Kind,
So wirbl' ich, ein Strohhalm,
In Wetter und Wind!

Well' auf und Well' nieder,
Bald dort und bald hier;
Welt, fragst du nach mir nicht,
Was frag' ich nach dir?

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by Eligius Franz Joseph, Freiherr von Münch-Bellinghausen (1806 - 1871), as Friedrich Halm
5. No house, no homeland
Language: English 
[ ... ]

No house, no homeland,
No wife and no child,
So I whirl, like a piece of straw,
in rain and wind!

Ebb and flow,
soon there and soon here;
World, if you do not ask after me,
why should I ask after you?

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:

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: 65

Translation © by Emily Ezust