English translations of Two songs, opus 49

by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937)

1. In Gedanken  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "In Gedanken", op. 49 (Two songs) no. 1, published 1909 [ voice and piano ], also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich auf dem Lager liege
In [Nacht und Kissen]1 gehüllt,
So schwebt mir vor ein süßes,
Anmutig liebes Bild!

Wenn mir der stille Schlummer
Geschlossen die Augen kaum,
So schleicht [das Bild sich leise]2
Hinein in meinen Traum

[Doch]3 mit dem Traum des Morgens
Zerrinnt es nimmermehr;
Dann trag' ich es im Herzen
Den ganzen Tag umher.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine's Sämmtliche Werke, Erster Band: Reisebilder, Dritte Auflage, Philadelphia: Verlag von John Weik, 1856, pages 29-30.

1 Mendelssohn: "Nacht"
2 Lang: "das liebe Bild"
3 Lang: "Und"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. When I lie on the bed
Language: English 
When I lie on the bed, 
shrouded in night and cushions, 
So floats before me a sweet,
lovely dear image.

When silent slumber 
has barely closed my eyes, 
So creeps the image quietly
into my dream.

And in the morning 
it never fades away with the dream:
Then I carry it about with me in my heart 
the whole day.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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.


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

Translation © by David K. Smythe
2. Thoughts  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Thoughts", op. 49 (Two songs) no. 1, published 1909, also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
When on my couch reclining,
   Buried in pillows and night,
There hovers then before me
   A form of grace and light.

As soon as quiet slumber
   Has closed my weary eyes,
Then softly does the image
   Within my dream arise.

But with my dream at morning,
   It never [fades]1 away;
For in my heart I hear it
   Through all the livelong day.

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1 in some editions, "melts"

by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
3. Il pleut des pétales de fleurs
 (Sung text)
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Il pleut des pétales de fleurs", op. 49 (Two songs) no. 2, published 1909, stanzas 1-4,1(line1), also set in English
Language: French (Français) 
Il pleut des pétales de fleurs.
La flamme se courbe au vent tiède ;
De mes deux yeux je te possède,
Et mes yeux ont besoin de pleurs.

Vieille argile, faite aux douleurs,
Quel goût de souffrir sans remède
Harcèle ainsi le cœur qui cède...
Il pleut des pétales de fleurs.

Les roses meurent, chaque et toutes...
Je ne dis rien, et tu m'écoutes
Sous tes immobiles cheveux.

L'amour est lourd — Mon âme est lasse...
Quelle est donc, Chère, sur nous deux
Cette aile en silence qui passe ?

Il pleut des pétales de fleurs.
 ... 

 ...

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by Albert Victor Samain (1858 - 1900)
3. It's raining flower petals
Language: English 
It's raining flower petals.
The flame bends in the tepid wind;
With my two eyes I possess you,
And my eyes have need of tears.

Ancient clay, made for sorrows,
What a taste for irremediable suffering 
So hounds the yielding heart...
It's raining flower petals.

The roses die, one and all...
I say nothing, and you listen
Beneath your unmoving tresses.

Love is heavy — my soul is weary...
What then, my dear, is this wing
That passes over the two of us in silence?

It's raining flower petals.
 ... 

 ...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (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.


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This text was added to the website: 2026-10-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 85

Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. The rose‑leaves are falling like rain
 (Sung text)
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "The rose-leaves are falling like rain", op. 49 (Two songs) no. 2, published 1909, also set in French (Français)
Language: English 
The rose-leaves are falling like rain,
The candle-flame dips to the air,
And my two eyes possess thee there,
Yet the tears they can scarce restrain.

Ancient clay, refashioned to pain,
What thirst of incurable ainguish
Must torture thus our hearts that languish!
The rose-leaves are falling like rain.

The flow'rs are dying all!
Ah, dearest, I do not speak, and yet thou hearest,
And under thy motionless hair
Thy love is dull, I tire of loving:
What can it be, dear one, o'er us two,
This wing that in silence is moving?
The rose-leaves are falling like rain.

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Singable translation by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913)