English translations of Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass, opus 25

by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868)

1. Im Sommer
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Im Sommer", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 1 (c1840) [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie Feld und Au
So blinkend im Thau!
Wie Perlen-schwer
Die Pflanzen umher!
Wie durch's Gebüsch 
Die Winde so frisch!
Wie laut, im hellen Sonnenstrahl,
Die süßen Vöglein allzumahl!

Ach! aber da,
Wo Liebchen ich sah,
Im Kämmerlein,
So nieder und klein,
So rings bedeckt,
Der Sonne versteckt --
Wo blieb die Erde weit und breit
Mit aller ihrer Herrlichkeit?

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Modern German would change the following spellings: "Thau" -> "Tau", "allzumahl" -> "allzumal"

Note: Goethe mistakenly included this poem in his works in 1815. Several composers therefore attributed it erroneously to him (including Wolf and Franz). Referenced in Max Friedlaender's Das deutsche Lied im 18. Jahrhundert, Stuttgart: J. G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1902, reprint: Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1962.

sometimes misattributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) and by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814)
1. Summer song
Language: English 
Like field and meadow
Gleaming in the dew!
Heavy as pearls
Are the plants around!
And through the bushes
The wind is so fresh!
And loud in the bright sunbeam
Are the sweet small birds!
 
Oh, but there
Where my sweetheart I saw
In the little chamber
So lowly and small
Thus covered round about
Hidden from the sun
Where the earth remained far and broad
With all of its splendor!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by David Guess, (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: 2011-04-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 71

Translation © by David Guess
2. Wanderers Nachtlied
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Wanderers Nachtlied", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 2 (c1840) [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.

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Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mailied
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Mailied", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 3 (c1840) [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwischen Weizen und Korn,
Zwischen Hecken und Dorn,
Zwischen Bäumen und Gras,
Wo gehts Liebchen? 
Sag mir das.

  Fand mein Holdchen 
  Nicht daheim;
  Muß das Goldchen 
  Draußen sein.
  Grünt und blühet 
  Schön der Mai;
  Liebchen ziehet 
  Froh und frei.

An dem Felsen beim Fluß,
Wo sie reichte den Kuß,
Jenen ersten im Gras, 
Seh' ich etwas!
Ist sie das? --

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Note: The modernized spelling of "Weizen" is "Waizen". See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. May song
Language: English 
Between wheat and corn,
Between thicket and thorn,
Between trees and grass,
Where has my sweetheart gone? 
Tell me.

  I did not find my darling 
  At home.
  My treasure 
  Must be outside.
  May is blooming 
  Green and fair -
  My love must be wandering, 
  Happy and free.

At the cliffs by the river,
where she bestowed the kiss,
that first one in the grass - 
Do I see something?
Is it she?

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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Translations of titles
"Mailied" = "May song"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Heidenröslein
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Heidenröslein", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 4 (c1840) [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihr doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt' es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

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First published in a different version by Johann Gottfried Herder in 1772 with the title "Fabelliedchen", and again in 1779 with the title "Röschen auf der Heide" (see below).

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. Rose blossom on the heath
Language: English 
Passing lad a rose blossom spied,
Blossom on the heath growing,
'Twas so fair and of youthful pride,
Raced he fast to be near its side,
Saw it with joy o'erflowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Said the lad: I shall pick thee,
Blossom on the heath growing!
Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee,
That thou shalt ever think of me,
And I'll not be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

And the lusty lad did pick
The blossom on the heath growing;
Blossom, in defense, did prick,
'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick,
Had to be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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: 21
Word count: 115

Translation © by Walter Meyer
5. Frühzeitiger Frühling
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Frühzeitiger Frühling", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 5 (c1840), stanzas 1-4,6-9 [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tage der Wonne
Kommt ihr so bald?
Schenkt mir die Sonne,
Hügel und Wald?

Reichlicher fließen
Bächlein zumal.
Sind es die Wiesen
Ist es das Thal?

Bläuliche Frische!
Himmel und Höh!
Goldene Fische
Wimmeln im See.

Buntes Gefieder
Rauschet im Hain;
Himmlische Lieder
Schallen darein.

 ... 

Leise Bewegung
Bebt in der Luft,
Reizende Regung,
Schläfernder Duft.

Mächtiger rühret
Bald sich ein Hauch,
Doch er verlieret
Gleich sich im Strauch.

Aber zum Busen
Kehrt er zurück.
Helfet, ihr Musen,
Tragen das Glück!

Saget seit gestern
Wie mir geschah?
Liebliche Schwestern,
Liebchen ist da!

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. Early spring
Language: English 
Days of joy,
Have you come so soon?
To give me the sun,
Hill and Forest?

Amply flow
the brooklets again,
Are those meadows?
Is this a valley?

Blue freshness!
Heaven and heights!
Golden fishes
Teeming in the sea.

Colorful plumage
Rustles in the grove,
Heavenly songs
Resound therein!

[ ... ]

Gentle movements
shake in the fresh air,
the lovely stirring
Of sleepy fragrance.

Powerfully stirs
a breath of air,
Yet it loses
itself in a bush.

But to the bosom
It turns back,
Help [me], o Muses,
To bear [this] Happiness!

Tell me how, since yesterday,
it happened to me,
lovely sisters -
My sweetheart is there!

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: 36
Word count: 118

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Geistesgruß
 (Sung text)
by Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Geistesgruß", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder von Goethe für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 6 (c1840) [ SATB chorus ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hoch auf dem alten Thurme steht
Des Helden edler Geist,
Der, wie das Schiff vorübergeht,
Es wohl zu fahren heißt.

"Sieh, diese Senne war so stark,
Dieß Herz so fest und wild,
Die Knochen voll von Rittermark,
Der Becher angefüllt;

"Mein halbes Leben stürmt' ich fort,
Verdehnt' die Hälft' in Ruh,
Und du, du Menschen-Schifflein dort,
Fahr' immer, immer zu!"

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
6. Ghost-Greetings
Language: English 
 High up on the ancient tower stands
 The hero's noble ghost,
 Which, whenever a boat passes by,
 Bids it a fair journey.

 "Behold, this muscle was once strong, 
 This heart so firm and savage,
 These bones full of a Knight's marrow,
 The cup overflowing;

 "Half my life I stormed forth,
 I spent the other half in peace;
 And you, you little man-made boat,
 Journey ever, ever forth!"

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: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust