English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 1

by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879)

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1. Lehn deine Wang' an meine Wang'
 (Sung text)
by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Lehn deine Wang' an meine Wang'", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1856), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lehn deine Wang' an meine Wang',
Dann fliessen die Tränen zusammen;
Und an mein Herz drück fest dein Herz,
Dann schlagen zusammen die Flammen!

Und wenn in die große Flamme fliesst
Der Strom von unsern Tränen,
Und wenn mein Arm dich gewaltig umschließt -
Sterb' ich vor Liebessehnen!

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Lay your cheek against my cheek
Language: English 
Lay your cheek against my cheek,
 Then our tears will flow together;
 And against my heart press firmly your heart,
 Then their flames will leap together!

 And when, into the great flame, flows
 The stream of our tears,
 And when my arm embraces you powerfully -
 I shall die of love's yearning!

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: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Marie
 (Sung text)

Subtitle: Hohes Lied vom Weibe

by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Marie", subtitle: "Hohes Lied vom Weibe", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Marie, am Fenster sitzest du,
Du liebes, süßes Kind,
Und siehst dem Spiel der Blüthen zu,
Verweht im Abendwind.

Der Wandrer, der vorüber geht,
Er lüftet fromm den Hut.
Du bist ja selbst, wie ein Gebet,
So fromm, so schön, so gut.

Die Blumenaugen seh'n empor
Zu deiner Augen Licht!
Die schönste Blum' im Fensterflor
Ist doch dein Angesicht.

Ihr Abendglocken, grüßet sie
Mit süßer Melodie!
O brech' der Sturm die Blume nie,
Und nie dein Herz, Marie!

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by Rudolph von Gottschall (1823 - 1909)
2. Marie
Language: English 
Marie, you sit at the window,
You [simple child of the townfolk]1,
And watch the playing of the blossoms,
Scattered by the evening wind.

The [burgher]2 who walks by,
He lifts his hat devoutly.
For, like a prayer, you are yourself
So saintly, so lovely, so good.

The eyes of the flowers look up
To the light of your eyes!
But the loveliest blossom in the
Flowery profusion round the window is your face.

Ye evening bells, greet her
With sweet melodies!
Oh may the storm never break the [flowers]3,
And never [break] your heart, Marie!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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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Translations of title(s):
"Marie, am Fenster sitzest du" = "Marie, you sit at the window"
"Marie" = "Marie"

1 Jensen: "dear sweet child"
2 Jensen: "wanderer"
3 Jensen: "flower"


This text was added to the website: 2017-06-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 101

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Sie war die Schönste von Allen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Sie war die Schönste von Allen", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wohl [ist]1 [im]2 Busch und [Rasen]3
Kein Plätzchen so still und klein,
Wo nicht zusammen wir sassen, --
Ich sitze jetzt hier allein;

Wohl haben wir Kränze gewunden,
Wohl manchen duftigen Strauss
Aus Blumen des Walds gebunden, --
Dies Alles, Alles ist aus; 

Die Blätter sie sind gefallen,
Die Blumen sie sind verdorrt,
Sie war die Schönste von Allen,
Sie hielt nicht Treue, nicht Wort;

Ihr Nam' in die Birke geschnitten
Verwittert im Windeswehn,
Doch was ich gekämpft und gelitten,
Das will nicht und kann nicht vergehn.

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Confirmed with Rheinische Musik-Zeitung für Kunstfreunde und Künstler, 1. Jahrgang, Nro. 39 (29. März 1851), page 311

1 Jensen, F. Jansen, Siebmann: "war", more changes may exist, not noted
2 A. Horn, Sieber, Siebmann, Vagedes: "in", more changes may exist, not noted
3 F. Jansen: "Bau", more changes may exist, not noted

by Gustav Pfarrius (1800 - 1884)
3.
Language: English 
In bush and [lawn]1 there [is]2 likely
No spot, so quiet and small,
Where we did not sit together, --
Now I sit here alone;

Indeed we wove wreaths,
Many a scented bouquet
Of the flowers of the forest, --
That all, all is over;

The leaves, they have fallen,
The flowers, they are withered,
She was the most beautiful one of all,
She did not keep faith, did not keep her word;

Her name, carved into the birch tree,
Becomes weather-worn in the blowing of the wind,
But that for which I battled and that which I suffered,
That does not wish to and cannot pass away.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Wohl war in Busch und Rasen" = "In bush and lawn there was likely"
"Sie war die Schönste von Allen" = "She was the most beautiful one of all"
"Wohl ist in Busch und Rasen" = "In bush and lawn there is likely"

1 F. Jansen: "building", more changes may exist, not noted
2 Jensen, F. Jansen, Siebmann: "was", more changes may exist, not noted


This text was added to the website: 2017-05-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 108

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Spanisches Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Spanisches Lied", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4 (1856), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dem Schatten meiner Locken
Schlief mir mein Geliebter ein.
Weck' ich ihn nun auf? -- Ach nein!

Sorglich strählt' ich meine krausen
Locken täglich in der Frühe,
Doch umsonst ist meine Mühe,
Weil die Winde sie zerzausen.
Lockenschatten, Windessausen
Schläferten den Liebsten ein.
Weck' ich ihn nun auf? -- Ach nein!

Hören muß ich, wie ihn gräme,
Daß er schmachtet schon so lange,
Daß ihm Leben [geb' und nehme]1
Diese meine braune Wange,
Und er nennt mich seine Schlange,
Und doch schlief er bei mir ein.
Weck' ich ihn nun auf? -- Ach nein!

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Confirmed with Spanisches Liederbuch von Emanuel Geibel und Paul Heyse, Berlin, Verlag von Wilhelm Herz, 1852, p. 57.

1 Brahms: "gäb und nähme"

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
4.
Language: English 
In the shadow of my tresses
My beloved has fallen asleep.
Shall I awaken him now? Ah, no!

Carefully I comb my ruffled
Locks, early every day;
Yet for nothing is my trouble,
For the wind makes them dishevelled yet again.
The shadows of my tresses, the whispering of the wind,
Have lulled my darling to sleep.
Shall I awaken him now? Ah, no!

I must listen to him complain
That he pines for me so long,
That life is given and taken away from him
By this, my brown cheek,
And he calls me a snake;
Yet he fell asleep by me.
Shall I awaken him now? Ah, no!

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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Based on:

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Translation of title "In dem Schatten meiner Locken" = "In the shadow of my tresses"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 110

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Altes Lied
 (Sung text)
by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Altes Lied", alternate title: "Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär'", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart; confirmed with an 1884 edition published by G. Schirmer in New York titled Song Album, pages 13-16
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär',
Und auch zwey Flüglein hätt',
Flög' ich zu dir;
Weil's aber nicht kann seyn,
Bleib' ich allhier.

  Bin ich gleich weit von dir,
Bin ich doch im Schlaf bey dir,
Und red' mit dir:
Wenn ich erwachen thu',
Bin ich allein.

  Es vergeht kein' Stund'  in der Nacht,
Da mein Herze nicht erwacht,
Und an dich gedenkt,
Daß du mir viel tausendmal 
Dein Herz geschenkt.

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Modern spelling would change "zwey" to "zwei", "seyn" to "sein", "bey" to "bei", "thu" to "tu", etc.

Note: the first stanza is quoted by Treitschke in a text set by Beethoven, Ruf vom Berge, WoO. 147

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
5. If I were a little bird
Language: English 
 If I were a little bird
 and also had two little wings
 I would fly to you.
 But because that cannot be,
 I remain just here.
 
 Equally if I am far from you,
 yet I am with you in sleep
 and talk to you.
 When I become awake,
 I am alone.
 
 There is no hour of the night goes by
 that my heart does not wake
 and is thinking of you,
 that many thousandfold
 you gave your heart to me.

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. 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: 15
Word count: 81

Translation © by David K. Smythe
6. Frühlingsnacht
 (Sung text)
by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Frühlingsnacht", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1856), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über'n Garten durch die Lüfte
Hört' ich Wandervögel ziehn,
Das bedeutet Frühlingsdüfte,
Unten fängt's schon an zu blühn.

Jauchzen möcht' ich, möchte weinen,
Ist mir's doch, als könnt's nicht sein!
Alte Wunder wieder scheinen
Mit dem Mondenglanz herein.

Und der Mond, die Sterne sagen's,
Und im Traume rauscht's der Hain,
Und die Nachtigallen schlagen's:
Sie ist deine! Sie ist dein!

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
6.
Language: English 
Above the [gardens]1 and across the sky
I heard migrating birds passing;
that meant that spring was in the air;
below, things are already beginning to bloom.

I could rejoice, I could weep -
I feel as though it cannot be!
Old wonders appear again
with the moonlight.

And the moon and stars say it,
and in a dream the grove murmurs it,
and the nightingales sing it:
she is yours! She is yours!

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 of titles
"Frühlingsnacht" = "Spring night"
"Frühlingsbotschaft" = "Spring message"

1 or "garden" when the original is "Über'm"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Emily Ezust