English translations of Gedichte von Heine, opus 3

by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969)

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1. Nimm mich auf, uralte Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969), "Nimm mich auf, uralte Nacht", op. 3 (Gedichte von Heine) no. 1, published 19--?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wo ich bin, mich rings umdunkelt
Finsterniß so dumpf und dicht,
Seit mir nicht mehr leuchtend funkelt,
Liebste, deiner Augen Licht.

[Mir]1 erloschen ist der süßen
Liebessterne goldne Pracht,
Abgrund gähnt zu meinen Füßen.
Nimm mich auf, uralte Nacht.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 166.

1 Strauss: "Wie"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
Where I am, all around me
there is darkness, gloomy and dense,
because the light of your eyes, dearest, 
no longer sparkles before me.

Extinct for me is the golden splendour
of  those sweet stars of love.
An abyss gapes at my feet.
Receive me, ancient night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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: 2008-04-26
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

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2. Herz, mein Herz  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969), "Herz, mein Herz", op. 3 (Gedichte von Heine) no. 2, published 19-?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen,
Und ertrage dein Geschick.
Neuer Frühling [giebt]1 zurück,
Was der Winter dir genommen.

  Und wie viel ist dir geblieben!
Und wie schön ist noch die Welt!
Und mein Herz, was dir gefällt,
Alles, alles darfst du lieben!

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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 136.

Note: contemporary German spelling would change "giebt" to "gibt".

1 Bruné: "bringt"; Lachner: "gibt dir"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed
Language: English 
Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed,
and bear your fate:
a new Spring will give back
what Winter has taken from you.

Just think how many things remain,
and how fair is the world!
And, my heart, whatever you find pleasing,
anything, everything - you may love!

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: 46

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3. Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969), "Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein", op. 3 (Gedichte von Heine) no. 3, published 19-?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein,
da sitz' ich mit meinen Träumen.
Es pfeift der Wind, die Möwen schrein,
die Wellen, die wandern und schäumen.

Ich habe geliebt manch schönes Kind
und manchen guten Gesellen -
Wo sind [sie]1 hin? Es pfeift der Wind,
es schäumen und wandern die Wellen.

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1 Bretan: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. The runestone juts into the sea
Language: English 
 The runestone juts into the sea,
 and I sit there with my dreams.
 The wind whistles and the seagulls shriek;
 and the waves, they wander and foam.
 
 I have loved many a fair girl
 and made many good friends -
 where have they gone? The wind whistles,
 and the waves foam and wander.

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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Line count: 8
Word count: 53

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4. Das Meer erstrahlt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969), "Das Meer erstrahlt", op. 3 (Gedichte von Heine) no. 4, published 19--?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Meer erstrahlt im Sonnenschein,
Als ob es golden wär.
Ihr Brüder, wenn ich sterbe,
Versenkt mich in das Meer!

Hab immer das Meer so lieb gehabt,
Es hat mit sanfter Flut
So oft mein Herz gekühlet;
Wir waren einander gut.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. The sea is radiant in the sunshine
Language: English 
The sea is radiant in the sunshine,
as if it were made of gold.
My brothers, when I die,
bury me in the sea.

I have always loved the sea:
it has, with its gentle flow,
so often cooled my heart;
we were good to each other.

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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Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Es war ein alter König  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894 - 1969), "Es war ein alter König", op. 3 (Gedichte von Heine) no. 5, published 19--?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein [Haupt]1 war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein [schöner]2 Page,
blond war sein [Haupt]3, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die [seid'ne]4 Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von H. Heine, Zweite Auflage, Hamburg, bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 28.

1 Diepenbrock: "Haar"
2 Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Zemlinsky: "junger"
3 Wolfrum: "Haar"
4 Goldschmidt: "seidene"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust