English translations of Seven lyrics, opus 7

by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937)

1. Warum  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Warum", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 3, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum sind [denn]1 die Rosen so blaß?
O sprich mein Lieb warum?
Warum sind denn im grünen Gras
Die blauen Veilchen so stumm?

Warum singt denn mit so kläglichem Laut,
Die Lerche in der Luft?
Warum steigt denn aus dem Balsamkraut
Verwelkter Blütenduft?

Warum scheint denn die Sonn' auf die Au,
So kalt und verdrießlich herab?
Warum ist denn die Erde so grau,
Und öde wie ein Grab?

Warum bin ich selbst so krank und so trüb?
Mein liebes Liebchen sprich
O sprich mein herzallerliebstes Lieb,
Warum verließest du mich?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 129.

1 Zenger: "doch"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Why are the roses so pale?
Language: English 
 Why are the roses so pale?
 o speak, my love, why?
 Why in the green grass
 are the blue violets so silent?
 
 Why with such a lamenting voice
 does the lark sing in the sky?
 Why from the balsam weed does there rise
 the scent of wilting blossoms?
 
 Why does the sun shine down on the meadow,
 so coldly and morosely?
 Why is the earth so gray
 and desolate like a grave?
 
 Why am I myself so ill and dull?
 My lovely darling speak,
 O speak, my heart's most beloved love,
 why have you abandoned me?

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: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Why
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Why", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 3, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
O dearest canst thou tell me
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. Verlassen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Verlassen", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 5, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Und]1 wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen,
Wie tief verwundet mein Herz,
Sie würden mit mir weinen,
Zu heilen meinen Schmerz.

Und wüßten's die Nachtigallen,
Wie ich so traurig und krank,
Sie ließen fröhlich erschallen
Erquickenden Gesang.

Und wüßten sie mein Wehe,
Die [goldnen]2 Sternelein,
Sie kämen aus [ihrer Höhe]3,
Und sprächen Trost mir ein.

[Die alle]4 können's nicht wissen,
Nur [eine]5 kennt meinen Schmerz;
[Sie]6 hat ja selbst zerrissen,
Zerrissen mir das Herz.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 128.

Note: Christian Jost's setting begins "Zerrissen mir das Herz" (the last line) and then follows the rest of the text.

1 Jost: "Zerrissen mir das Herz./ Und"
2 Jost, Schumann: "goldenen"; Lenz: "kleinen"
3 Lenz: "ihren Höhen"
4 André, Jost, Schumann: "Sie alle"; Lenz: "Sie alle, sie"
5 Hensel: "einer"; Lenz: "eine, die"
6 Hensel: "Er"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
Language: English 
And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
How deeply wounded is my heart,
They would weep with me
To heal my pain.

And if the nightingales knew
How sad and ill I am,
They would let forth merrily
A refreshing song.

And if they knew my woe -
The little golden stars -
They would come down from their heights
And speak their consolation to me.

But all of them could not know this,
Only one knows my pain;
She herself has indeed torn,
Torn my heart in two.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
4. Abandoned
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Abandoned", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 5, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
And if the little flow'rs could see
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. Gruss  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Gruss", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 6, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg: "Zieh"
3 Behrens, Gade, Grieg, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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:

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: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas
6. Greetings  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henry Kimball Hadley (1871 - 1937), "Greetings", op. 7 (Seven lyrics) no. 6, published 1897 [ low voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
[Soft]1 and gently through my soul
 Sweetest bells are ringing,
Speed you forth, my little song,
 Of springtime blithely singing!

Speed you onward to a house
 Where sweet flowers are fleeting!
If, perchance, a rose you see,
 Say, I send her greeting!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Hadley: "Softly"; further changes may exist not shown above.

Singable translation by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904)