English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 25

by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913)

Return to the original list

1. Sang wohl, sang das Vöglein
 (Sung text)
by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Sang wohl, sang das Vöglein", op. 25 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1902 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Brüssel, London, New York: Breifkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sang wohl, sang das Vögelein, 
Und verstummte.
Ward dem Herzen Freude kund, 
Und Vergessen.

Vöglein, das so gerne singt, 
Warum schweigt es?
Herz, was ist mit dir geschehn,
Daß du traurig?

Ach, das Vöglein tödtete 
Rauher Schneesturm,
Und das Herz des Jünglings brach
Böses Reden.

Wär' das Vöglein gern geflogen
Fort zum Meere,
Wär' der Jüngling gern entflohen 
In die Wälder.

In dem Meere treibt die Flut,
Doch nicht Schneesturm --
Wilde Thiere birgt der Wald,
Doch nicht Menschen.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

See other settings of this text.

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)
1. [It] sang, [it] sang, the little bird
Language: English 
[It] sang, [it] sang, the little bird,
And fell silent.
My heart received tidings of joy,
[And [tidings of] forgetting]1.

Little bird that sings so gladly,
Why has it fallen silent?
Heart, what has happened to you
That you are sad?

Ah! The little bird was killed
By a harsh snowstorm,
And the heart of the [young man]2 was broken
By evil gossip.

The little bird would gladly have [flown]3
Away to the sea,
The [young man]2 would gladly have fled
Into the woods.

In the sea are driving tides,
But no snowstorms --
The forest conceals wild animals,
But not people4.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 

Based on:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Rubinstein: "And forgot them"
2 Rubinstein: "lad"
3 Rubinstein: "fled"
4 Rubinstein adds: "Ah! In the sea no snowstorms, / Ah! In the woods no people. Yes!"


This text was added to the website: 2013-04-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 108

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Heidenröslein
 (Sung text)
by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Heidenröslein", op. 25 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1902 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Brüssel, London, New York: Breifkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihr doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt' es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

First published in a different version by Johann Gottfried Herder in 1772 with the title "Fabelliedchen", and again in 1779 with the title "Röschen auf der Heide" (see below).

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Rose blossom on the heath
Language: English 
Passing lad a rose blossom spied,
Blossom on the heath growing,
'Twas so fair and of youthful pride,
Raced he fast to be near its side,
Saw it with joy o'erflowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Said the lad: I shall pick thee,
Blossom on the heath growing!
Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee,
That thou shalt ever think of me,
And I'll not be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

And the lusty lad did pick
The blossom on the heath growing;
Blossom, in defense, did prick,
'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick,
Had to be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 115

Translation © by Walter Meyer
3. Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen
 (Sung text)
by Ingeborg Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen", op. 25 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1902 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Brüssel, London, New York: Breifkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen
Und starrte ihr Bildniß an,
Und das geliebte Antlitz
Heimlich zu leben begann.
 
Um ihre Lippen zog sich
Ein Lächeln wunderbar,
Und wie von Wehmuthsthränen
Erglänzte ihr Augenpaar.
 
Auch meine Thränen flossen
Mir von den Wangen herab -- 
Und ach, ich kann es nicht glauben,
Daß ich Dich verloren hab'!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. I stood in gloomy daydreams
Language: English 
I stood in gloomy daydreams
and gazed at her portrait,
and that well-beloved countenance
began furtively to come to life.

About her lips there seemed to glide 
a wondrous smile,
and, as if they were about to fill with nostalgic tears,
her eyes glistened.
 
And my tears flowed
down my cheeks -
and ah, I cannot believe
that I have lost you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 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

Translations of titles
"Ihr Bildnis" = "Her portrait"
"Ihr Bild" = "Her portrait"
"Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen" = "I stood in gloomy daydreams"



This text was added to the website: 2017-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust