English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 12

by Jan Albert van Eijken (1823 - 1868)

1. Ich hab die Nacht geträumet
 (Sung text)
by Jan Albert van Eijken (1823 - 1868), "Ich hab die Nacht geträumet", op. 12 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab die Nacht geträumet
Wohl einen schweren Traum;
Es wuchs in meinem Garten
Ein Rosmarinenbaum.

Ein Kirchhof war der Garten,
Ein Blumenbeet das Grab,
Und von dem grünen Baume
Fiel Kron' und Blüte ab.

Die Blüten tät ich sammeln
In einen goldenen Krug;
Der fiel mir aus den Händen,
Daß er in Stücken schlug.

D'raus sah ich Perlen rinnen
Und Tröpflein rosenrot.
Was mag der Traum bedeuten?
Ach Liebster, bist du tot?

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1.
Language: English 
I dreamed all last night
Such a worrisome dream;
I saw growing in my garden
A rosemary tree.

A church graveyard was the garden,
A flowerbed the grave,
And from the green tree
fell a crown and blossoms.

I collected the blossoms
In a golden jar;
I fell out of my hands,
And [smashed completely to pieces]1.

Around the outside I saw pearls
And rose-red drops.
What could the dream mean?
Ah, Beloved, are you dead?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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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Translator's notes:
Line 2-4: crown (of a tree): braches and foliage from the top of the tree.
Line 4-1: pearls: could also mean pearly drops, like tears or sweat

1 J. van Eijken: "smashed to pieces"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 76

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Jägerlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Jan Albert van Eijken (1823 - 1868), "Jägerlied", op. 12 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Jäger, was jagst du die Häselein?
Häselein jag' ich, das muß so sein.
Jäger, was steht dir im Auge dein?
Tränen wohl sind es, das muß so sein.

Jäger, was hast du im Herzelein?
Liebe und Leiden, das muß so sein.
Jäger, wann holst du dein Liebchen heim?
Nimmer, ach nimmer, das muß so sein.

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by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872)
2. Huntsman's song
Language: English 
Huntsman, why do you hunt the hare?
I hunt the hare, it must be so.
Huntsman, what is that in your eye?
Tears they are, it must be so.

Huntsman, what do you have in your heart?
Love and sorrow, it must be so.
Huntsman, when will you fetch home your beloved?
Never, ah never, it must be so.

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: 8
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Gebet
 (Sung text)
by Jan Albert van Eijken (1823 - 1868), "Gebet", op. 12 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Herr! der Du Alles wohl gemacht!
  Ich will nichts, was nicht du willst schenken.
  Du machst es nicht, wie wir's gedacht;
  Du machst es besser, als wir's denken. 

Mich geb' ich hier in deine Hand,
  Daß du mich meiner Liebsten gebest.
  Du hast geschlungen dieses Band,
  O daß du's immer fester webest. 

O ziehe nicht die Hand zurück,
  Die du zum Heil mir ausgestrecket!
  Du leitest mich zu meinem Glück;
  Gieb, daß dazu kein Weg mich schrecket.

Soll ich mit ihr auf Rosen geh'n?
  Den Dornenpfad? Ich geh' in Frieden.
  Und sollen wir getrennt hier steh'n,
  Laß uns im Himmel ungeschieden.

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Note: there is a typo in Bartók's score in stanza 3 line 2: word 6 is misspelled "ausgestrecktet"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. Lord ! Lord, you who are the creator of all
Language: English 
 Lord ! Lord, you who are the creator of all, 
 I don't want what you don't want to give. 
 Thou makest it not as we would wish;
 you make it better than we could imagine.
 
 I give myself here into your hands,
 so that you will give me to my sweetheart. 
 You have wound this bond, 
 oh, I wish that you would wind it ever more tightly! 
 
 O don't withdraw the hand 
 that you have given me for my salvation!
 You lead me to my happiness;
 grant that my path will not frighten me.
 
 Shall I go with her on roses? 
 The path of thorns? I go in peace. 
 And should we stand parted,
 let us be united in heaven!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell and W. Kommer, (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: 119

Translation © by John H. Campbell, W. Kommer