English translations of Lieder mit Klavier, opus 18

by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963)

1. Die trunkene Tänzerin
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Die trunkene Tänzerin", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 1 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sieh, an letzten Himmels Saum
schwebt die Blume voller Süße
und die Schwingen meiner Füße
kosen wolkenzarten Traum.

Trinke meine Gluten aus,
führ den Taumelkelch zum Munde,
und du tanzt mit mir zur Stunde
aus dem lebenshellen Haus.

Singt der Sterne Silberchor
überm trunknen Mondesnachen,
gleiten wir mit leisem Lachen
in des Schlafes dunk'les Tor.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Kurt Bock
1. The intoxicated dancer
Language: English 
Look, at the last hem of the sky,
the flower floats full of sweetness
and the swinging of my feet
caresses a dream, as fine as clouds.

Drink up my ardours,
lead the frenzy cup to my mouth,
and you dance with me on the hour
in the house, as clear as life.

The silver chorus of stars sings
over intoxicated moon-boats,
we glide with light laughter
through the dark gate of slumber.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-10-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Joel Ayau
2. Wie Sankt Franciscus schweb' ich in der Luft
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Wie Sankt Franciscus schweb' ich in der Luft", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 2 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie Sankt Franciscus schweb' ich in der Luft
mit beiden Füßen, fühle nicht den Grund
der Erde mehr, weiß nicht mehr, was das ist.

Seid still! Nein, -- redet, singt, jedweder Mund!
Sonst wird die Ewigkeit ganz meine Gruft
und nimmt mich auf wie einst den tiefen Christ.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: "Sankt" is sometimes spelled "Sanct"
by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
2. Like St. Francis I float through the air
Language: English 
Like St. Francis I float through the air
with both feet; I don't feel the ground
or the earth anymore; I don't know anymore, what that is...
Be quiet! Be quiet! No, speak, sing, every mouth!
Otherwise eternity will be my entire crypt
and he takes me up, like once the deep Christ.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-10-20
Line count: 6
Word count: 53

Translation © by Joel Ayau
3. Traum
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Traum", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 3 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Schlaf entführte mich in Deine Gärten,
In Deinen Traum – die Nacht war wolkenschwarz umwunden –
Wie düstere Erden starrten Deine Augenrunden,
Und Deine Blicke waren Härten.

Und zwischen uns lag eine weite, steife,
Tonlose Ebene .......
Und meine Sehnsucht hingegebene,
Küßt Deinen Mund, die blassen Lippenstreife.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945)
3. Dream
Language: English 
Sleep abducted me into your gardens,
into your dream. The night was wound up all cloudy and black.
Your eyeballs stared like dark worlds,
and your glances were harsh.

And between us lay a wide, stiff,
toneless plain.
And my longing, given away,
kissed your mouth, the pale lip-stripe.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-10-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Joel Ayau
4. Auf der Treppe sitzen meine Öhrchen
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Auf der Treppe sitzen meine Öhrchen", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 4 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"Auf der Treppe sitzen meine Öhrchen,
Wie zwei Kätzchen, die die Milch erwarten...
Auf der Treppe sitzt mein Herz und harret,
Wie ein Geistchen, Kinn in Hand gestützet.

Doch der Bote mit den Briefen kommt nicht.
Taub und ohne Seele drin im Zimmer lieg ich. 
Wünsche nichts zurück zu haben.
Nicht die rosa Kätzchen, nicht das Geistchen."

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
4. On the steps sit my little ears
Language: English 
 On the steps sit my little ears,
 like two kittens waiting for milk...
 on the steps sits my heart, waiting
 like a little ghost, chin propped up in hand.

 Yet the Post with the letter comes not.
 Numb and without spirit, in my room
 I lie. I wish for nothing back again,
 neither pink kitten nor little spirit.

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: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Vor dir schein' ich aufgewacht
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Vor dir schein' ich aufgewacht", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 5 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vor dir schein' ich aufgewacht,
und ich küsse dich am Halse,
und du, ohne Lid zu heben,
legst den Arm um mich, und sacht,
wie nach einer Chopin Valse,
meinst du mit mir hinzuschweben...

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
5. To you I seem awake
Language: English 
To you I seem awake
and I kiss you on the throat,
and you, without lifting your eyelids,
lay your arm on me, and say,
as if before a Chopin Waltz,
"Would you like to float up with me?"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-10-20
Line count: 6
Word count: 39

Translation © by Joel Ayau
6. Du machst mich traurig ‑ hör'
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Du machst mich traurig - hör'", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 6 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bin so müde.
Alle Nächte trag' ich dich auf dem Rücken
Auch deine Nacht, die du so schwer umträumst
Hast du mich lieb? Hast du mich lieb?
Ich blies dir arge Wolken von der Stirn und tat ihr blau.
Was tust du mir in meiner Todesstunde?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945)
6. You make me sad - listen
Language: English 
Am so weary.
All night long I carry you on my back.
Your night as well, you dream through so heavily.
Do you love me? Do you hold me dear?
Evil clouds I blew away from your brow and brightened it up.
What will you do to me in my hour of death?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-05-10
Line count: 6
Word count: 53

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. Durch die abendlichen Gärten
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Durch die abendlichen Gärten", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 7 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Durch die abendliche Gärten,
über glänzende Asphalte
wirbelt mich die Mondesfülle.
Auf dem naßgetropften Laube
schimmern Kerzen, Mondlichtaugen.
O, lunare Visionen. Eingetaucht in Gaslaternen,
Blendekreise schüttelt sich die Seele.
Das Gefühl perlt Wasser wie von Entenfedern.
Bis befreundet gelbe Aureole der Laterne
brüderlich dir naht, Aug in Auge harrend,
du gebannt Arme spannst in Nacht, in Nacht.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Heinrich "Heinar" Schilling (1894 - 1955)
7. Through the evening garden
Language: English 
Through the evening garden,
over shining asphalt,
the moon's abundance whirls me.
On the leaves covered with wet drops
candles shimmer, moonlight-eyes.
Oh, nocturnal visions, plunged into gas lanterns,
a circle of screens shakes its soul.
Water bubbles out from the feeling, as if from duck feathers.
Until a friendly gold halo, the lantern,
nears you in a brotherly way. Waiting, eye to eye,
you, held spellbound, arms outstretched into the night, into the night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-10-20
Line count: 11
Word count: 75

Translation © by Joel Ayau
8. Trompeten
 (Sung text)
by Paul Hindemith (1895 - 1963), "Trompeten", op. 18 (Lieder mit Klavier) no. 8 (1922)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Unter verschnittenen Weiden, wo braune Kinder spielen
und Blätter treiben, tönen Trompeten. Ein Kirchhofsschauer.
Fahnen von Scharlach stürzen durch des Ahorns Trauer,
Reiter entlang an Roggenfeldern, leeren Mühlen.

Oder Hirten singen nachts und Hirsche treten
in den Kreis ihrer Feuer, des Hains uralte Trauer.
Tanzende heben sich von einer schwarzen Mauer;
Fahnen von Scharlach, Lachen, Wahnsinn, Trompeten.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
8. Trumpets
Language: English 
Under trimmed willows where brown children play,
And leaves drift, trumpets sound. A churchyard-shudder.
Scarlet banners fall through the maple tree's mourning,
Riders along rye fields, empty mills.

Or shepherds sing at night and stags step
Into the circle of their fire, the ancient mourning of the wood;
Dancing figures raise themselves before a black wall;
Banners of scarlet, laughter, madness, trumpets.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Elisabeth Siekhaus, (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: 2008-04-04
Line count: 8
Word count: 62

Translation © by Elisabeth Siekhaus