English translations of Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen, opus 3

by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836)

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1. Einkehr
 (Sung text)
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "Einkehr", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 1 (1827-36?), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bei einem Wirte, wundermild,
Da war ich einst zu Gast,
Ein gold'ner Apfel war sein Schild
An einem langen Aste.

Es war der gute Apfelbaum,
Bei dem ich eingekehret,
Mit süsser Kost und frischem Schaum
Hat er mich wohl genähret.

Es kamen in sein grünes Haus
Viel leichtbeschwingte Gäste;
Sie sprangen frei und hielten Schmaus
Und sangen auf das Beste.

Ich fand ein Bett zu süsser Ruh
Auf weichen grünen Matten;
Der Wirt, er deckte selbst mich zu
Mit seinem kühlen Schatten.

Nun fragt' ich nach der Schuldigkeit,
Da schüttelt' er den Wipfel.
Gesegnet sei er allezeit
Von der Wurzel bis zum Gipfel.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1. Stopping at an inn
Language: English 
In the abode of an innkeeper, wondrously gentle,
I was [recently]1 a guest.
The emblem of the inn was a golden apple
Upon a [long]2 branch.

It was the good old apple tree --
[That was the inn] at which I stopped,
With [sweet]3 sustenance and a freshly foaming drink
It nourished me well.

Into its green abode
Many light-winged guests came;
They hopped about freely and feasted
And sang their very best.

Upon the soft green meadows
I found a bed for sweet repose;
The innkeeper himself covered me up
With his [cool]2 shadow.

When I asked for the bill,
He shook his leafy locks [in negation].
May he be blessed at all times
From his roots to the tips of his lofty branches.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
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1 Burgmüller: "once"
2 R. Strauss, 1871: "green" [corrected by his father on the manuscript]
3 R. Strauss, 1871: "fresh" [corrected by his father on the manuscript]


This text was added to the website: 2014-06-12
Line count: 20
Word count: 128

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. In der Ferne  [sung text not yet checked]
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "In der Ferne", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 2, published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Will ruhen unter den Bäumen hier,
Die [Vögelein]1 hör' ich so gerne.
Wie [singet]2 ihr so zum Herzen mir!
Von [unsrer]3 Liebe was wisset ihr
In dieser weiten Ferne?

Will ruhen hier an des Baches Rand,
Wo [duftige Blümlein]4 sprießen.
Wer hat euch Blümlein, [hieher]5 gesandt?
Seid ihr ein [herzliches]6 Liebespfand
Aus der Ferne von meiner Süßen?

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1 Aggházy, Herrmann, Unger: "Vöglein"
2 Herrmann: "singt"
3 Andersson: "meiner"
4 Aggházy: "duftige Blumen"; Herrmann: "duft'ge Blumen"
5 Brahms, Andersson: "hierher"
6 Herrmann: "herzlich"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. Far away
Language: English 
I will rest under the trees here,
I enjoy listening to the little birds so much;
How can your singing affect my heart so!
What do you know of our love,
In this far-off place?

I will rest here on the edge of the brook,
Where fragrant little flowers sprout.
Who has sent you little blossoms here?
Are you a heartfelt pledge of love
From my far-off sweetheart?

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: 10
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Lied
 (Sung text)
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "Lied", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 3 (1827-36?), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine Blume
So hold und schön und rein;
Ich schau' dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als ob ich die Hände
Aufs Haupt dir legen sollt',
Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte
So rein und schön und hold.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 136.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Thou art, as is a flower
Language: English 
Thou art, as is a flower,
so meek and pure and fine,
I look at thee and sadness
steals o'er the heart of mine.

I feel that both my hands softly
thy hair, thy head should seek,
praying that God may preserve thee
so pure and fine and meek.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-08-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Winterreise
 (Sung text)
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "Winterreise", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 4 (1827-36?), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bei diesem kalten Wehen 
Sind alle Strassen leer,
Die Wasser stille stehen; 
Ich aber schweif umher,

Die Sonne scheint so trübe, 
Muss früh hinuntergehn,
Erloschen ist die Liebe,
Die Lust kann nicht bestehn.

 Nun geht der Wald zu Ende,
Im Dorfe mach ich halt,
Da wärm ich meine Hände,
Bleibt auch das Herze kalt.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
4. Winter journey
Language: English 
When the wind blows this coldly
All the streets are empty,
The waters stand still;
But I rove about,

The sun shines so blearily,
Early it must sink,
Love has been extinguished,
Joy [cannot]1 persist.

Now the forest [almost]2 lies behind me,
I stop in the village,
[There]3 I warm my hands,
Even though my heart remains cold.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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: 

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Translated titles:
"Winterreise" = "Winter journey"
"Die Winterreise" = "The winter journey"
"Bei diesem kalten Wehen" = "When the wind blows this coldly"
"Wanderlied im Winter" = "Winter wandering song"
"Das verwaiste Kind" = "The orphaned child"

1 R. Strauss: "can never"
2 omitted by R. Strauss
3 R. Strauss: "And"


This text was added to the website: 2014-03-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Fischerknabe
 (Sung text)
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "Fischerknabe", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 5 (1827-36?), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Des Abendsterns ersehnter Schein
Beglänzt den Saum der Flut,
Der Knabe zieht den Kahn herein,
Der still im Hafen ruht.
 
"Mein Tagewerk ist nun vollbracht,
Doch, liebe Seele, sprich,
O sprich, wie soll die lange Nacht
Vergehn mir ohne dich?"
 
Am Ufer steht ein Weidenbaum
Und dran gelehnt ein Stein,
Und drunter liegt in schmalem Raum
Ihr kaltes Totenbein.

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
5. Fisher lad
Language: English 
The longed-for gleam of the evening star
Shines upon the margin of the floodwaters,
The lad pulls in the boat
That [lies quietly]1 in the harbour.
 
"My day's work is [faithfully]2 completed,
But, dear soul, tell me,
Oh tell me, how shall the long night
Pass for me without you?"
 
On the shore stands a willow tree
And leaning against it a stone,
[Below]3 it lie in a narrow space
Her cold dead bones.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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: 

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1 Lang: "lies"
2 Burgmüller: "now"
3 Burgmüller: "And below"


This text was added to the website: 2014-02-06
Line count: 12
Word count: 77

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Harfenspieler I
 (Sung text)
by (August Joseph) Norbert Burgmüller (1810 - 1836), "Harfenspieler I", op. 3 (Sechs Gesänge von Uhland, Goethe, Heine, Platen) no. 6 (1827-36?), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Hofmeister
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An die Thüren will ich schleichen,
Still und sittsam will ich stehn;
Fromme Hand wird Nahrung reichen;
Und ich werde weiter gehn.
Jeder wird sich glücklich scheinen,
Wenn mein Bild vor ihm erscheint;
Eine Thräne wird er weinen,
Und ich weiß nicht was er weint.

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First published in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Ein Roman. Herausgegeben von Goethe. Dritter Band. Berlin. Bei Johann Friedrich Unger. 1795, page 146. The poem appears in Book 5, Chapter 14 of Goethe's novel.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
6. I will creep from door to door
Language: English 
I will creep from door to door;
Quiet and humble will I stand.
A pious hand will give me food,
And I shall go on my way.
Everyone will think himself lucky
When he sees me before him;
A tear will he shed,
But I won't know why he weeps.

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: 8
Word count: 50

Translation © by Emily Ezust