English translations of Sechs Gedichte von H. Heine, opus 66

by Richard Hol (1825 - 1904)

1. Deine blauen Augen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Hol (1825 - 1904), "Deine blauen Augen", op. 66 (Sechs Gedichte von H. Heine) no. 1, published 1873
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mit deinen blauen Augen
Siehst du mich [lieblich]1 an,
Da ward mir so träumend zu Sinne,
Daß ich nicht sprechen kann.
 
  An deinen blauen Augen
Gedenk' ich allerwärts: --
Ein Meer von blauen Gedanken
Ergießt sich über mein Herz.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 245.

1 Würz: "freundlich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. With your blue eyes
Language: English 
With your blue eyes
You look at me lovingly,
Then my senses grow so dreamy
That I cannot speak.

Of your blue eyes
I am reminded everywhere:
A sea of blue thoughts
Pours forth over my heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 37

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder, Rebecca Plack
2. Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Hol (1825 - 1904), "Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst", op. 66 (Sechs Gedichte von H. Heine) no. 2, published 1873
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst,
Und dein Kleid berührt mich nur,
Jubelt dir mein Herz, und stürmisch
Folgt es deiner schönen Spur.

[Dann]1 drehst du dich um, und schaust mich
Mit den großen Augen an,
[Und mein Herz ist]2 so erschrocken,
Daß es kaum dir folgen kann.

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1 Reissiger: "Doch"
2 Reissiger: "ist mein Herz gleich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. When you walk past me
Language: English 
When you walk past me,
And your garment only just touches me,
My heart turns to you with rejoicing, and stormily
It follows your beautiful trace.
 
[Then]2 you turn, and gaze at me
With your great eyes,
[And my heart is]2 so startled
That it can scarcely follow you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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1 Reissiger: "But if "
2 Reissiger: "My heart is immediately"


This text was added to the website: 2015-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Hol (1825 - 1904), "Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen", op. 66 (Sechs Gedichte von H. Heine) no. 3, published 1873
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen,
Liebestränen, [schmerzenmild]1,
Und ich fürchte, dieses Sehnen
Wird am Ende noch erfüllt.

Ach, der Liebe süßes Elend
Und der Liebe bittre Lust
Schleicht sich wieder, himmlisch quälend,
In die kaum genes'ne Brust.

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1 Deprosse: "schmerzensmild"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Ah, I yearn for tears
Language: English 
Ah, I yearn for tears,
Tears of love, gently painful,
And I fear that this yearning
Shall in the end be fulfilled.
 
Ah, the sweet misery of love
And the bitter joy of love
Creeps once again with heavenly torture
Into the barely recovered breast.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translated titles:
"Erfüllte Ahnung" = "Fulfilled premonition"
"Sehnen" = "Yearning"
"Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen" = "Ah, I yearn for tears"
"Süßes Elend, bitt're Lust" = "Sweet misery, bitter joy"
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"


This text was added to the website: 2015-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Spätherbstnebel  [sung text not yet checked]
by Richard Hol (1825 - 1904), "Spätherbstnebel", op. 66 (Sechs Gedichte von H. Heine) no. 4, published 1873
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Spätherbstnebel, kalte Träume,
überfloren Berg und Tal,
Sturm entblättert schon die Bäume,
und sie schaun gespenstig kahl.

Nur ein einz'ger, traurig schweigsam
einz'ger Baum steht unentlaubt,
feucht von Wehmutstränen gleichsam,
schüttelt er sein grünes Haupt.

Ach, mein Herz gleicht dieser Wildnis,
und der Baum, den ich dort schau'
sommergrün, das ist dein Bildnis,
vielgeliebte schöne Frau.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Late autumn fog, cold dreams
Language: English 
 Late autumn fog and cold dreams
 cover mountain and valley;
 a storm has already robbed the trees of leaves,
 and they look spectral and naked.
 
 Only one, a mournful, silent,
 solitary tree, stands undenuded,
 moist from nostalgic tears, it seems,
 nodding its green head.
 
 Ah, my heart is like this wasteland,
 and that tree that I see there,
 summer-green - that is your image,
 well-beloved, beautiful woman!

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: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

5. Tragödie 
Entflieh mit mir und sei mein Weib,
Und ruh' an meinem Herzen aus;
[Fern in der Fremde]1 sei mein Herz
[Dein]2 Vaterland und Vaterhaus.

[Gehst du nicht mit, so sterb ich hier]3
Und du bist einsam und allein;
Und bleibst du auch im Vaterhaus,
Wirst doch wie in der Fremde sein.

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1 Hiller, Mendelssohn, Schumann: "In weiter Ferne"
2 Hiller: "dir"
3 Griffes: "Kommst du nicht mit, so sterb ich hier"; Hiller, Mendelssohn: "Und fliehst du nicht, so sterb' ich hier"; Schumann: "Entfliehn wir nicht, so sterb' ich hier"; Stanford: "Gehst du nicht mit, ich sterbe hier"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor] 
Es fiel ein Reif in der Frühlingsnacht,    
Es fiel auf die [zarten]1 Blaublümelein:
Sie sind verwelket, [verdorret]2.

Ein Jüngling hatte ein Mädchen lieb,
Sie flohen heimlich [von]3 Hause fort,
Es [wußt']4 weder Vater noch Mutter.

Sie sind gewandert hin und her,
Sie haben gehabt weder Glück noch Stern,
Sie sind [verdorben, gestorben]5.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 151. Below the number at the top of the text are the following words: "(Dieses ist ein wirkliches Volkslied, welches ich am Rheine gehört.)" which can be translated "This is a real folksong that I heard on the Rhein". See also Backer-Grøndahl's song, which uses some of this text.

1 Hiller, Mendelssohn: "bunten"
2 Griffes, Walter, Stanford: "verdorrt"
3 Rubinstein: "vom"
4 Hermann, Hiller: "wusst's"
5 Hiller, Mendelssohn, C. Schumann: "gestorben, verdorben"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor] 
Auf ihrem Grab, da steht eine Linde,
Drin pfeifen die Vögel [und]1 Abendwinde,
Und [drunter sitzt, auf dem grünen]2 Platz,
[Der]3 Müllersknecht mit seinem Schatz.

Die [Winde, die wehen so lind]4 und so schaurig,
Die [Vögel, die singen]5 so süß und [so]6 traurig:
Die schwatzenden Buhlen, [die]7 werden stumm,
Sie weinen und wissen selbst nicht warum.

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1 Griffes, Schumann: "im"
2 Hiller: "drunten sitzt auf dem grünem"
3 Hiller: "Des"
4 Griffes, Schumann: "Winde wehen so lind", Hiller, Mendelssohn: "Winde weh'n so still"
5 Griffes, Hiller, Mendelssohn, Schumann: "Vögel singen"
6 omitted by Hiller
7 Griffes, Hiller, Mendelssohn, Schumann: "sie"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Garrett Medlock [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Flee with me and be my wife
 Flee with me and be my wife,
 and rest upon my heat;
 in distant lands let my heart
 be your fatherland and your parental home.
 
 If we do not flee, I'll die here
 and you will be lonely and alone;
 and you will remain in your parental house,
 but it will be like a foreign land to you.

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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There fell a frost on a night of Spring,
it fell on the delicate blossoms blue:
the blossoms withered, and drooped.

A young man once loved a maiden fair;
in secret they ran away from home,
unknown to their father or mother.

They wandered aimless here and there,
they had neither luck nor aiding star,
they met their ruin, they perished.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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 Over their grave stands a linden tree,
 in which the birds are piping in the evening wind,
 and on the grass underneath sits
 the miller's boy with his sweetheart.
 
 The wind blows so mildly and eerily,
 the birds sing so sweetly and mournfully:
 the chattering youngsters, they fall silent;
 they weep and they do not know why.

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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Translation © by David Kenneth Smith, Emily Ezust