English translations of Vier Gesänge, opus 81
by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913)
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1. Die Schwestern [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913), "Die Schwestern", op. 81 (Vier Gesänge) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen, So gleich von Angesicht, So gleicht kein Ei dem andern, Kein Stern dem andern nicht. Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen, Wir haben [lichtebraune]1 Haar', Und [flichst]2 du sie in einen Zopf, Man kennt sie nicht fürwahr. Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen, Wir tragen gleich Gewand, Spazieren auf dem Wiesenplan Und singen Hand in Hand. Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen, Wir spinnen in die Wett', Wir sitzen an einer Kunkel[,] Wir schlafen in einem Bett. O Schwestern zwei, ihr schönen, Wie hat sich das Blättchen [gewend't]3! Ihr liebet einerlei Liebchen -- [Und jetzt]4 hat das Liedel ein End'.
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Die Schwestern"
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, pages 63-64.
1 Brahms: "nußbraun"2 Brahms: "flichtst"
3 Brahms: "gewandt"
4 Brahms: "Jetzt"
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1. The sisters
Language: English
We two sisters, we beauties Our faces so similar, Identical as two eggs, Identical as two stars. We two sisters, we beauties, We have nut brown tresses, If you plat them together, You can't tell them apart. We two sisters, we beauties We dress the same, Walking in the meadow, And singing hand in hand. We two sisters, we beauties, We race each other at spinning, We sit together in an alcove, And sleep in the same bed. O sisters two, you beauties How the tables have turned, You love the same sweetheart; And now the song is over!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Siân Goldthorpe and Christian Stein, (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 Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Die Schwestern"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 99
Translation © by Siân Goldthorpe, Christian Stein
2. Agnes [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913), "Agnes", op. 81 (Vier Gesänge) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch)
Rosenzeit! wie [schnell]1 vorbei,
Schnell vorbei
Bist du doch gegangen!
Wär' mein Lieb' nur blieben treu,
Blieben treu,
Sollte mir nicht bangen.
Um die Ernte wohlgemut,
Wohlgemut
Schnitterrinnen singen.
Aber, ach! mir [kranken]2 Blut,
Mir [kranken]2 Blut
Will nichts mehr gelingen.
Schleiche so durch's Wiesental,
So durch's Tal,
Als im Traum verloren,
Nach dem Berg, da tausendmal,
Tausendmal,
Er mir Treu' geschworen.
Oben auf des Hügels Rand,
Abgewandt,
Wein' ich bei der Linde;
An dem Hut mein Rosenband,
Von seiner Hand,
Spielet in dem Winde.
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Agnes", written 1831, first published 1838
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 62.
Note: written for the novel Maler Nolten, in which it had the title "Refrain-Liedchen"1 Wöbbe: "bald"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 1877 version, also used by Kahn, E. Kauffmann, and Wetzel: "krankem"
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. Time of roses! How quickly past
Language: English
Time of roses! How quickly past, Quickly past have you gone! Had my sweetheart only remained true, remained true, Then I should fear nothing. At the harvest, cheerfully, Cheerfully the reaping women sing. But ah! poor me, poor me, I can no longer do anything right. I creep so through the meadow valley, Through the meadow valley, as if lost in a dream, To the mountain, where a thousand times, a thousand times, he swore he would be true. Above on the edge of the hill, turning away, I weep by the linden tree; On my hat, the wreath of roses that he made for me Blows in the wind.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Agnes", written 1831, first published 1838
Go to the general single-text view
Note: updated 2014-03-25 after a kind suggestion by Lau Kanen.
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 110
Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Ritterliche Werbung [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913), "Ritterliche Werbung", op. 81 (Vier Gesänge) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch)
"Wo gehst du hin, du schönes Kind?" "Zu melken, Herr!" -sprach Gotelind. "Wer ist dein Vater, du schönes Kind?" "Der Müller im Tal!" -sprach Gotelind. "Wie, wenn ich dich freite, schönes Kind?" "Zu viel der Ehre!" -sprach Gotelind. "Was hast du zur Mitgift, schönes Kind?" "Herr, mein Gesichte!" -sprach Gotelind. "So kann ich dich nicht wohl frein, mein Kind." "Wer hat's Euch geheißen?" -sprach Gotelind
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3. Chivalrous Courting
Language: English
"Where are you going, pretty child?" "Milking, Lord!" said Gotelind. "Who is your father, pretty child?" "The miller in the valley!" said Gotelind. "What if I set you free, pretty child?" "Too great an honor!" said Gotelind. "What have you for a dowry, pretty child?" "My face, Lord!" said Gotelind. "Then I guess I can't set you free, my child." "Who asked you?" said Gotelind.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Charles James Pearson, (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 Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 66
Translation © by Charles James Pearson
4. Denk es, o Seele! [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix (August Bernhard) Draeseke (1835 - 1913), "Denk es, o Seele!", op. 81 (Vier Gesänge) no. 4, published 1906
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ein Tännlein grünet, wo, Wer weiß, im Walde, Ein Rosenstrauch, wer sagt, In welchem Garten? Sie sind erlesen schon, Denk' es, o Seele! Auf deinem Grab zu wurzeln Und zu wachsen. Zwei schwarze Rößlein weiden Auf der Wiese, Sie kehren heim zur Stadt In [muntern]1 Sprüngen. Sie werden schrittweis gehn Mit deiner Leiche; [Vielleicht, vielleicht noch eh']2 An ihren Hufen Das Eisen los wird, Das ich blitzen sehe!
Text Authorship:
- by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Denk es, o Seele!"
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 103.
1 Pfitzner: "muntren"2 Distler: "Vielleicht noch, vielleicht eh'"; Rheinberger: "Vielleicht noch eh'"
by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
4. A little fir-tree flourishes
Language: English
A little fir-tree flourishes, who knows where, in the wood; A rosebush, who can tell in what garden? They are selected already, Consider, o soul, to take root and grow on your grave. Two young black horses graze on the pasture, they return back to town with lively leaps. They will go step by step with your corpse; perhaps, perhaps even before on their hooves the shoe gets loose, and I can see it sparkle.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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 Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Denk es, o Seele!"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 75
Translation © by Jakob Kellner