English translations of Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso, opus 4

by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907)

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1. Die Waise
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Die Waise", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 1 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie haben mich geheißen
    Nach Heidelbeeren gehn:
Ich habe nach den Beeren
    Im Walde nicht gesehn.

Ich bin hinaus gegangen
    Zu meiner Mutter Grab,
Worauf ich mich gesetzet
    Und viel geweinet hab. --

"Wer sitzt auf meinem Hügel,
    Von der die Tränen sind?" --
Ich bin's, o liebe Mutter,
    Ich, dein verwaistes Kind.

Wer wird hinfort mich kleiden
    Und flechten mir das Haar?
Mit Liebeswort mir schmeicheln,
    Wie's deine Weise war?

"Geh hin, o liebe Tochter,
    Und finde dich darein,
Es wird dir eine zweite,
    Statt meiner, Mutter sein.

Sie wird das Haar dir flechten
    Und kleiden dich hinfort,
Ein Jüngling wird dir schmeicheln
    Mit zartem Liebeswort."

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
1. The orphan girl
Language: English 
They told me to go out
    And find blueberries;
I did not look for berries
    In the forest.
 
I went out
    To my mother's grave,
I sat down upon it
    And wept very much. --
 
 "Who sits upon my burial mound,
   From whom the tears flow? --
It is I, oh dear mother,
   I, your orphaned child.
 
Who shall henceforth dress me
    And braid for me my hair?
With loving words caress me,
    As was your wont?
 
 "Go forth, oh dear daughter,
    And comes to terms with the situation,
Another shall be to you a mother
    Instead of me.
 
She shall braid your hair,
    And dress you from now on,
A young lad shall caress you
    With tender words of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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This text was added to the website: 2011-01-31
Line count: 24
Word count: 119

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Morgentau
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Morgentau", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 2 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wir wollten mit Kosen und Lieben
Geniessen der köstlichen Nacht.
Wo sind doch die Stunden geblieben?
Es ist ja der Hahn schon erwacht.

Die Sonne, die bringt viel Leiden,
Es weinet die scheidende Nacht;
Ich also muß weinen und scheiden,
Es ist ja die Welt schon erwacht.

Ich wollt' es gäb' keine Sonne,
Als eben dein Auge so klar.
Wir weilten in Tag und in Wonne,
Und schliefe die Welt immerdar.

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
2. Morning dew
Language: English 
With caresses and loving, we [wished]1
To enjoy the delightful night.
Where have the hours gone?
The rooster is already awake,
 
The sun, it brings much sorrow,
The passing night weeps;
So I must weep and depart,
For the world is already awake
 
I wish there were no sun
Save for your eyes so clear,
We would tarry in daylight and bliss,
And the world would sleep forever.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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Seldeneck's title: "Dewdrops"
1 Seldeneck: "wish"


This text was added to the website: 2011-01-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Abschied
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Abschied", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 3 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das gelbe Laub erzittert, 
Es fallen die Blätter herab; 
Ach, alles, was hold und lieblich, 
Verwelkt und sinkt ins Grab. 

Die Wipfel des Waldes umflimmert 
Ein schmerzlicher Sonnenschein; 
Das mögen die letzten Küsse 
Des scheidenden Sommers sein. 

Mir ist, als müsst ich weinen 
Aus tiefstem Herzensgrund; 
Dies Bild erinnert mich wieder
An unsre Abschiedsstund'. 

Ich musste dich verlassen, 
Und wusste, du stürbest bald; 
Ich war der scheidende Sommer, 
Du warst der sterbende Wald.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. The yellow foliage trembles
Language: English 
The yellow foliage trembles,
the leaves fall down;
oh, everything, that is lovely and sweet,
wilts and sinks into the grave.

The tops of the forest conceal
a painful sunshine;
the last kisses are like
the departing summer.
 
I weep, as I must,
from deepest heart's reason;
this scene again reminds me
of our parting-hours.
 
I had to [part from]1 you
knowing, you would die soon!
I was the departing summer,
you were the [ailing]2 forest.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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1 Grieg, Reinecke, Thuille: "leave"
2 Grieg, Reinecke: "dying"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Translation © by John H. Campbell
4. Jägerlied
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Jägerlied", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 4 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kein' bess're Lust in dieser Zeit,
Als durch den Wald zu dringen,
Wo Drossel singt und Habicht schreit,
Wo Hirsch' und Rehe springen.

O säss' mein Lieb' im Wipfel grün,
Tät' wie 'ne Drossel schlagen!
O spräng' es, wie ein Reh' dahin,
Daß ich es könnte jagen!

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Note: in Kreutzer's score, there is a typo that is repeated: stanza 2, line 1 word 4 is "Leib" instead of "Lieb".

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
4. Hunter's song
Language: English 
No one better enjoys this time,
to ramble through the forest,
where thrush sings and hawk cries,
where stag and doe leap.

O how agreeable to sit in the green tree-top,
as the thrush sings out!
O if I could leap like a deer there,
I could hunt it so!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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: 8
Word count: 50

Translation © by John H. Campbell
5. Das alte Lied
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Das alte Lied", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 5 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein Haupt war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein schöner Page,
blond war sein Haupt, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die seid'ne Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Wo sind sie hin?
 (Sung text)
by Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907), "Wo sind sie hin?", op. 4 (Seks Digte af H. Heine, L. Uhland og A. von Chamisso) no. 6 (1863-1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein,
da sitz' ich mit meinen Träumen.
Es pfeift der Wind, die Möwen schrein,
die Wellen, die wandern und schäumen.

Ich habe geliebt manch schönes Kind
und manchen guten Gesellen -
Wo sind sie hin? Es pfeift der Wind,
es schäumen und wandern die Wellen.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. The runestone juts into the sea
Language: English 
 The runestone juts into the sea,
 and I sit there with my dreams.
 The wind whistles and the seagulls shriek;
 and the waves, they wander and foam.
 
 I have loved many a fair girl
 and made many good friends -
 where have they gone? The wind whistles,
 and the waves foam and wander.

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: 53

Translation © by Emily Ezust