English translations of Sechs Gesänge, opus 18

by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892)

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1. Marie  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Marie", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 1, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Marie, am Fenster sitzest du,
Du [einfach Bürgerkind]1,
Und siehst dem Spiel der Blüthen zu,
Verweht im Abendwind.

Der [Bürger]2, der vorüber geht,
Er lüftet fromm den Hut.
Du bist ja selbst, wie ein Gebet,
So fromm, so schön, so gut.

Die Blumenaugen seh'n empor
Zu deiner Augen Licht!
Die schönste Blum' im Fensterflor
Ist doch dein Angesicht.

Ihr Abendglocken, grüßet sie
Mit süßer Melodie!
O brech' der Sturm die [Blumen]3 nie,
Und nie dein Herz, Marie!

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Confirmed with Rudolph Gottschall, Die Göttin. Ein Hoheslied vom Weibe, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, 1853, page 27

1 Jensen: "liebes, süßes Kind"
2 Jensen: "Wandrer"
3 Jensen: "Blume"

by Rudolph von Gottschall (1823 - 1909)
1. Marie
Language: English 
Marie, you sit at the window,
You [simple child of the townfolk]1,
And watch the playing of the blossoms,
Scattered by the evening wind.

The [burgher]2 who walks by,
He lifts his hat devoutly.
For, like a prayer, you are yourself
So saintly, so lovely, so good.

The eyes of the flowers look up
To the light of your eyes!
But the loveliest blossom in the
Flowery profusion round the window is your face.

Ye evening bells, greet her
With sweet melodies!
Oh may the storm never break the [flowers]3,
And never [break] your heart, Marie!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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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Translations of title(s):
"Marie, am Fenster sitzest du" = "Marie, you sit at the window"
"Marie" = "Marie"

1 Jensen: "dear sweet child"
2 Jensen: "wanderer"
3 Jensen: "flower"


This text was added to the website: 2017-06-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 101

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Im Rhein, im schönen Strome
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Im Rhein, im schönen Strome", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 2, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome,
Da spiegelt sich in den Well'n
Mit seinem großen Dome
Das große, heil'ge Köln.

Im Dom da steht ein Bildnis,
Auf goldenem Grunde gemalt;
In meines Lebens Wildnis
Hat's freundlich hineingestrahlt.

Es schweben Blumen und Eng'lein
Um unsre liebe Frau;
Die Augen, die Lippen, die Wänglein,
Die gleichen der Liebsten genau.

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Note: in the first version of the poem, Heine has "heiligen" in stanza 1, line 1, word 4.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. In the Rhine, in the fair stream
Language: English 
In the Rhine, in the holy stream
Is it mirrored in the waves -
With its great cathedral -
That great, holy city Cologne.

In the Cathedral stands an image
Painted on golden leather;
Into the wildness of my life
Has it shone, friendly.

Flowers and little cherubs hover
Around our beloved Lady;
The eyes, the lips, the cheeks--
They match my beloved's exactly.

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.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. Nun hat das Leid ein Ende
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Nun hat das Leid ein Ende", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 3, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun hat das Leid ein Ende,
   Der Frühling kommt gezogen,
Und mit ihm ist behende
   Die Lieb' herbeigeflogen,

Sie wird sich bald, die lose,
   Im grünen Busch verstecken,
Und die verschlafne Rose
   Zum Leben auferwecken.

Und blüht die Rose wieder,
   Dann hat sie leichtes Siegen,
Wenn lustig auf und nieder
   Die gold'nen Wünsche fliegen.

Doch wirst du meine Schritte
   Du Liebesfrühling segnen,
Wenn ich mit leiser Bitte
   Ihr suche zu begegnen?

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by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887)
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Meerfahrt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Meerfahrt", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 4, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Liebchen, wir sassen beisammen,
Traulich im leichten Kahn.
Die Nacht war still, und wir schwammen
Auf weiter Wasserbahn.

Die Geisterinsel, die schöne,
Lag dämm'rig im Mondenglanz;
Dort klangen liebe Töne,
Dort wogte der Nebeltanz.

Dort klang es lieb und lieber,
Und wogt' es hin und her;
Wir aber schwammen vorüber,
Trostlos auf weitem Meer.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 147.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. My darling, we sat together
Language: English 
My darling, we sat together,
Comfortably in the light little boat;
The night was still, and we floated
on the broad watery road.

The ghostly island, the lovely one,
lay duskily in the moonlight;
there rang out lovely tones,
there the dancing mists waved.

The sounds there grew lovelier and lovelier,
and the dance surged back and forth;
but we floated past,
Comfortless on the wide sea.

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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Möcht wissen, was sie schlagen
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Möcht wissen, was sie schlagen", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 5, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Möcht wissen, was sie schlagen
So schön bei der Nacht,
's ist in der Welt ja doch niemand,
Der mit ihnen wacht.

Und die Wolken, die reisen,
Und das Land ist so blaß,
Und die Nacht wandelt leise
Durch den Wald übers Gras.

Nacht, Wolken, wohin sie gehen,
Ich weiß es recht gut,
Liegt ein Grund hinter den Höhen,
Wo meine Liebste jetzt ruht.

Zieht der Einsiedel sein Glöcklein,
Sie höret es nicht,
Es fallen ihre Löcklein
Übers ganze Gesicht.

Und daß sie niemand erschrecket,
Der liebe Gott hat sie hier
Ganz mit Mondschein bedecket,
Da träumt sie von mir.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
5. I would like to know what they sing
Language: English 
I would like to know what they sing
so beautifully at night,
though it is no one in the world
who watches with them.

And the clouds, they travel,
and the land is so pale,
and the night wanders silent
through the forest over grass.

Night, clouds, where they go to,
I know it quite well,
there lies a ground behind the Heights,
where my love now rests. 

The hermit rings his bell,
she cannot hear it,
her locks fall
whole over her face.

And lest anyone startle her,
God has covered her 
full with moonlight;
there she dreams of me.

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: 

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 101

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
6. Mit schwarzen Segeln  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Mit schwarzen Segeln", op. 18 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 6, published 1853 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit schwarzen Segeln segelt mein Schiff
wohl über das wilde Meer;
du weißt, wie sehr ich traurig bin,
und kränkst mich [noch]1 so schwer.

Dein Herz ist treulos wie der Wind
und flattert hin und her;
mit schwarzen Segeln segelt mein Schiff
wohl über das wilde Meer.

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1 Griffes: "doch"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. With black sails my ship plows
Language: English 
 With black sails my ship plows
 across the wild ocean;
 you know how very sad I am,
 and yet you hurt me all the more.
 
 Your heart is perfidious like the wind
 and flutters back and forth;
 with black sails my ship plows
 across the wild ocean.

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: 48

Translation © by Emily Ezust