English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 25

by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892)

1. Die Lotosblume
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Die Lotosblume", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Lotosblume ängstigt
Sich vor der Sonne Pracht
Und mit gesenktem Haupte
Erwartet sie träumend die Nacht.

Der Mond, der ist ihr Buhle
Er weckt sie mit seinem Licht,
Und ihm entschleiert sie freundlich
Ihr holdes Blumengesicht,

Sie blüht und glüht und leuchtet
Und starret stumm in die Höh';
Sie duftet und weinet und zittert
Vor Liebe und Liebesweh.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. The lotus flower
Language: English 
The lotus flower is anxious
In the Sun's radiance,
And with hanging head
Waits, dreaming, for Night.

The moon, who is her lover,
Awakens her with his light,
And for him she smilingly unveils
Her innocent flower-face.

She blooms and glows and gleams
And gazes silently upwards;
She sends forth fragrance, and weeps and trembles,
With love and love's torment.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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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Translation of title "Die Lotosblume" = "The lotus flower"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
2. O lüge nicht!  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "O lüge nicht!", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Ein schöner Stern geht auf in meiner Nacht,
Ein Stern, der süßen Trost herniederlacht
Und neues Leben mir verspricht --
O, lüge nicht!

  Gleichwie das Meer dem Mond entgegenschwillt,
So flutet meine Seele, froh und wild,
Empor zu deinem holden Licht --
O, lüge nicht!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 288.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2.
Language: English 
  A radiant star rises in my night,
A star that smiles down sweet comfort
And promises me new life --
Oh, do not deceive!

  Just as the sea swells toward the moon,
My soul surges, joyfully and wildly,
Up toward your lovely light --
Oh, do not deceive!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 titles:
"Ein schöner Stern" = "A radiant star"
"Ein schöner Stern erscheint in meiner Nacht" = "A radiant star appears in my night"
"Ein schöner Stern geht auf in meiner Nacht" = "A radiant star rises in my night"
"Ein Stern" = "A star"
"Katharina" = "Katharina"
"Katharine" = "Katharine"
"Mein Stern" = "My star"
"O lüge nicht" = "Oh, do not deceive"



This text was added to the website: 2025-01-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ich hab' im Traum geweinet
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Ich hab' im Traum geweinet", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab' im Traume geweinet,
Mir träumte, du lägest im Grab.
Ich wachte auf, und die Träne 
Floß noch von der Wange herab.

Ich hab' im Traume geweinet,
Mir träumt', du verließest mich.
Ich wachte auf, und ich weinte
Noch lange bitterlich.

Ich hab' im Traume geweinet,
Mir träumte, du wär'st mir noch gut.
Ich wachte auf, und noch immer
Strömt meine Tränenflut.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. I wept in my dream
Language: English 
I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you lay in a grave.
I awoke, and my tears
Still flowed down my cheeks.

I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you had abandoned me.
I awoke and I cried
Bitterly for a long while.

I wept in my dream -
I dreamed you were still good to me.
I awoke, and still
Streams my flood of tears.

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: 65

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
4. Kommt feins Liebchen heut'?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Kommt feins Liebchen heut'?", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Morgens steh' ich auf und frage:
Kommt feins Liebchen heut?
Abends sink' ich hin und klage:
Aus blieb sie auch heut.
 
In der Nacht mit meinem Kummer
lieg' ich schlaflos, [wach]1;
träumend, wie im halben Schlummer,
träumend wandle ich bei Tag.

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1 Hecht, Schumann: "lieg ich wach"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Every morning I awake and ask
Language: English 
 Every morning I awake and ask:
 Will my sweetheart come today?
 Every evening I sink down and lament:
 She stayed away again today.
 
 All night with my grief
 I lie sleepless, waking;
 dreaming, as if half asleep,
 dreaming, I pass the day.

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: 42

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

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: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
6. Auf dem Meere
 (Sung text)
by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Auf dem Meere", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1856 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An die bretterne Schiffswand,
Wo mein träumendes Haupt liegt,
Branden die Wellen, die wilden Wellen;
Sie rauschen und murmeln
Mir heimlich ins Ohr:
"Betörter Geselle!
Dein Arm ist kurz, der Himmel so weit
Und die Sterne da droben sind fest geschmiedet
Mit goldnen Nägeln -
Vergebliches Sehnen, vergebliches Seufzen,
Das beste wäre, du schliefest ein."

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. By the sea
Language: English 
At the other side of the wooden wall of the ship
where my dreaming head is lying
the waves are surging, the wild waves; 
they are roaring and murmuring
secretly into my ear,
"You bewitched lad.
Your arm is short [the sky so wide]
and the stars [are fastened so securely up there]
with golden nails --
pointless longing, pointless sighing,
it would be best if you fell asleep."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 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: 

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This text was added to the website: 2005-04-11
Line count: 11
Word count: 68

Translation © by Malcolm Wren