English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 5

by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955)

1. Nachruf  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Nachruf", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Totenglocke tönte mir
So traurig sonst, so bang;
Seit euch geläutet ward von ihr,
Ist sie mir Heimatklang.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Zweifelnder Wunsch  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Zweifelnder Wunsch", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn Worte dir vom Rosenmunde wehen,
Bist du so schön! -- gesenkten Angesichts
Und still, bist du so schön! -- was soll ich [flehen]1:
O rede mir!? o sage nichts!?

Drum laß mich zwischen beiden Himmeln schwanken,
Halb schweigend, sprechend halb, beglücke mich
Und flüstre mir, wie heimlich in Gedanken,
Das süße Wort: "Ich liebe dich!"

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau’s sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [no year], page 241.

1 Hausegger: "fleh'n"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. Vacillating wish
Language: English 
When words waft from your rosy lips,
You are so beautiful! -- with lowered face
And quiet, you are so beautiful! -- for what shall I plead:
Oh, speak to me!? Oh, say nothing!?

Therefore, let me vacillate between two heavens,
Half silent, half speaking, delight me
And whisper to me as if secretly in thought,
The sweet words: "I love you!"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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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This text was added to the website: 2024-07-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Gärtner  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Der Gärtner", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf ihrem Leibrößlein
So weiß wie der Schnee,
Die schönste Prinzessin
[Reit't]1 durch die Allee.

Der Weg, den das Rößlein
Hintanzet so hold,
Der Sand, den ich streute,
Er [blinket]2 wie Gold!

Du rosenfarbs Hütlein
Wohl auf und wohl ab,
O wirf eine Feder,
Verstohlen herab!

Und willst du dagegen
Eine Blüte von mir,
Nimm tausend für eine,
Nimm alle dafür!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 59.

1 Killmayer: "reit' "
2 Dresel: "glänzet"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3.
Language: English 
On her favorite pony
as white as snow,
the fairest princess
rides down the avenue.
 
On the path down which her steed
so finely prances,
the sand that I strewed there
glitters like gold!
 
You rose-colored little hat,
bobbing up and down,
O toss a feather
stealthily down!
 
And if, for that, you would like
a little flower from me,
take a thousand for one -
take all of them!

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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Translation of title "Der Gärtner" = "The gardener"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Ich und Du  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Ich und Du", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wir träumten von einander
  Und sind davon erwacht,
Wir leben, um uns zu lieben,
  Und sinken zurück in die Nacht.

Du tratst aus meinem Traume,
  Aus deinem trat ich hervor,
Wir sterben, wenn sich Eines
  Im Andern ganz verlor.

Auf einer Lilie zittern
  Zwei Tropfen, rein und rund,
Zerfließen in Eins und rollen
  Hinab in des Kelches Grund.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Friedrich Hebbel. Gesammt-Ausgabe stark vermehrt und verbessert, Stuttgart und Augsburg, J. G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1857, page 136.


by (Christian) Friedrich Hebbel (1813 - 1863)
4. I and you
Language: English 
 We dreamed of each other
 and it awakened us;
 we live to love each other
 and drop back into the night.
 
 You stepped from my dream
 and I stepped from yours.
 We will die when one of us
 has become entirely lost in the other's.
 
 On a lily vibrate
 two drops, pure and round;
 they melt into one and roll
 down into the bottom of the chalice.

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: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Das verlassene Mägdlein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Das verlassene Mägdlein", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Früh, [wann]1 die Hähne kräh'n,
[Eh']2 die Sternlein [verschwinden]3,
Muß ich am [Herde stehn]4,
Muß Feuer zünden.

Schön ist der [Flammen]5 Schein,
[Es]6 springen die Funken.
Ich schaue so [drein]7,
In Leid versunken.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Treuloser Knabe,
Daß ich die Nacht von dir
Geträumet habe.

Träne auf Träne dann
Stürzet hernieder;
So kommt der Tag heran -
O ging' er wieder!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, pages 61-62.

1 Bock, Feyhl, Zenger: "wenn"; Senger: "eh' " (further changes may exist not noted above).
2 Zenger: "Wenn"
3 Schumann, Pfitzner (SJ5), Wolf: "schwinden"
4 van Eijken, Schumann: "Heerde steh'n"
5 Schumann, Wetzel: "Flamme"
6 Reinecke: "Hell"
7 Molitor, Reinecke, Schumann, Pfitzner (SJ5), Wolf, Zenger: "darein"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
5.
Language: English 
Early, when the cock crows,
Before the stars disappear,
I must stand at the hearth;
I must light the fire.

Beautiful is the blaze of the flames;
[The sparks fly]1.
I gaze into the fire,
Sunk in grief.

Suddenly, it comes to me,
Unfaithful boy,
That last night
I dreamed of you.

Tears upon tears then 
Pour down;
So the day comes -
O would it were gone 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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Translated titles:
"Das verlassene Mägdlein" = "The abandoned maiden"
"Die Verlassene" = "The abandoned one"
1 Reinecke: "Bright fly the sparks"


This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Verborgenheit  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willy Burkhard (1900 - 1955), "Verborgenheit", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1959
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

Was ich traure, weiß ich nicht,
Es ist unbekanntes Wehe;
Immerdar durch Tränen sehe
Ich der Sonne liebes Licht.

Oft bin ich mir kaum bewußt,
Und die helle Freude zücket
Durch die Schwere, so mich drücket,
Wonniglich in meiner Brust.

Laß, o Welt, o laß mich sein!
Locket nicht mit Liebesgaben,
Laßt dies Herz alleine haben
Seine Wonne, seine Pein!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 101.

Note to stanza 3, line 3: in some anthologies this line is given erroneously as "Durch die Schwere, die mich drücket."


by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
6. Seclusion
Language: English 
Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

What I mourn, I know not.
It is an unknown pain;
Forever through tears shall I see
The sun's love-light.

Often, I am scarcely conscious
And the bright joys break
Through the pain, thus pressing
Delightfully into my breast.

Oh, world, let me be!
Entice me not with gifts of love.
Let this heart in solitude have
Your bliss, your pain!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Paul Hindemith