English translations of Písně = Songs = Lieder, opus 2

by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

1. Vy vroucí písně spějte
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Vy vroucí písně spějte", op. 2 (Písně = Songs = Lieder) no. 1 (1882) [ voice and piano ]
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Vy vroucí písně spějte
Tou nocí v mživou dál;
Všem pozdravení dejte,
Jež tíží tichý žal!

Tam spějte přes padoly,
Kde moje milka dlí,
A rcete, co mne bolí,
A proč letíte k ní! 

A zapláče-li s vámi,
Povězte mi to zas:
Jinak ať dolinami
Zavane vítr vás!

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Confirmed with Cypřiše. Sbírka básní lyrických a epických od Gustava Pflegera (Moravského), V Praze (Prague) : Nákladem knihkupectvi: I. L. Kober, 1862, pages 54-55. Note: The Bäreneiter edition of Dvořák's setting (2013) has a typo in the first line ("pějte" instead of "spějte").


by Gustav Pfleger-Moravský (1833 - 1875)
1. You heartfelt songs, head on
Language: English 
You heartfelt songs, head on 
through this damp night 
and pass on greetings to all
who are burdened by silent pain.

Head on across the valley
where my darling is waiting
and tell her what is hurting me
and why you are rushing to her

And if she bursts into tears with you
let me know about it
or else be off to the lowlands
blown off by the wind.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2007 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2007-05-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
2. Ó byl to krásný, zlatý sen
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Ó byl to krásný, zlatý sen", op. 2 (Písně = Songs = Lieder) no. 2 (1882) [ voice and piano ]
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Ó byl to krásný, zlatý sen,
Jejž spolu jsme tam snili!
Ach škoda, že tak krátký jen
Byl sen ten přespanilý!

Tak sladká touha v bytosti
Se celé uhostila,
A při loučení žalosti
Se slza dostavila.

A často chodím na horu
A za Tebou se dívám:
Však po dalekém obzoru
Jen žal svůj rozesívám.

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by Gustav Pfleger-Moravský (1833 - 1875)
2. Oh, it was a beautiful golden dream
Language: English 
Oh, it was a beautiful golden dream
that we dreamt there together.
Oh what a shame that it was so short,
that wonderful dream.

Such a sweet longing
filled my whole being
and along with the sorrow of parting
a tear formed.

And I often go into the hills
and I look out for you,
although into the distant horizon 
all that I send out is my sorrow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2007 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2007-05-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 68

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
3. Mé srdce často v bolesti
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Mé srdce často v bolesti", op. 2 (Písně = Songs = Lieder) no. 3
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Mé srdce často v neštěstí
Se teskně zadumá:
„Ó že ta láska bolestí
A tolik trnů má?

Ta láska přejde jako sen,
Tak krásná, spanilá
A za kratinko upne jen
Se na ní mohyla!

A na mohylu kámen dán,
Nad nímž tam lípa bdí;
A na kameni nápis psán:
Zde srdce puklé spí!...”

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by Gustav Pfleger-Moravský (1833 - 1875)
3. My heart is often in pain
Language: English 
My heart is often in pain
feeling depressed,
Oh, love involves so many thorns
and agonies.

Love passes like a dream,
so lovely and graceful,
but in a moment all
that is left of it is a grave.

And a stone is placed on the grave,
over which a linden tree keeps watch
and there is an inscription on the stone:
"Here rests a heart that has withered,
Here rests a broken heart."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2007 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2007-05-23
Line count: 13
Word count: 73

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
4. Na horách ticho v údolí
 (Sung text)
by Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904), "Na horách ticho v údolí", op. 2 (Písně = Songs = Lieder) no. 4
Language: Czech (Čeština) 
Na horách ticho a v údolí ticho,
Přiroda dříma sladký sen;
A vzduchem táhne tajemné váni,
Ke kmenu v lese šepce kmen.

A lesy šumí v modravou dáli,
Když dechne vání na lupen,
Šumí a šumí dále a dále,
S šuměním táhne tak mnohý sen!

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by Gustav Pfleger-Moravský (1833 - 1875)
4. In the hills there is calm and it is quiet in the valley
Language: English 
In the hills there is calm and it is quiet in the valley
nature is asleep, dreaming sweetly
and a mysterious breeze is blowing in the air
as trees whisper to each other in the forest.

And the woods murmur into the blue distance
when the breeze breathes onto the leaves,
they murmur and murmur, further and further,
and with this murmuring so many dreams are spread.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Czech (Čeština) to English copyright © 2007 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2007-05-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 67

Translation © by Malcolm Wren