English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 13

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Abschied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Abschied", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (likely 1844), published 1847 [ soprano and piano ], Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott’s Söhne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie hat mich still zum Abschied angeblickt,
Vor tiefer Rührung konnte sie nichts sagen.
Dann hat sie gleich den Mond mir nach geschickt,
Den ganzen Schmerz des Abschieds nachzutragen.

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Confirmed with: Christian Reinhold Köstlin’s poetry manuscripts, Z 2717, “Schweizer Reise. Herbst 1844” [21.] 1., Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach, Germany.

by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
1. Farewell
Language: English 
She gazed at me silently when we took farewell,
She was so deeply moved that she could not speak. 
Then she immediately sent the moon to follow me, 
To carry all the pain of the farewell after me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 4
Word count: 38

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Wanderer an die Quellen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Der Wanderer an die Quellen", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2 (1837), published 1847, stanzas 3-4 [ soprano and piano ], Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott's Söhne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

   Was jauchzt ihr so, ihr Quellen,
Als bliebet ihr bei Ihr?
Und müßt doch immer weiter
Und müßt doch fort von hier!

   Laßt mir, laßt mir das Singen,
Das Jauchzen lasset mir!
So lang' ich bin und lebe,
Bleib' ich fortan bei Ihr!

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Confirmed with: Gedichte von Heinrich Wenzel, Glogau: Druck und Verlag von C. Flemming, 1836, pages 46-47.

by Heinrich Wenzel
2. The wanderer addressing the water-springs
Language: English 
[ ... ]

   Why are you [rejoicing]1, you water-springs,
As if you were staying near Her?
Whereas you must [flow] ever onward,
And must go away from here!

   Leave, oh leave the singing to me.
Leave to me the rejoicing!
From now on, as long as I exist and live,
I shall remain with Her.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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 Lang: "rejoicing so"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 100

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Aus der Ferne
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Aus der Ferne", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1847 [ soprano and piano ], Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott's Söhne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Siehst du dort die Wolken eilen?
Ja, mit ihnen möcht' ich gern.
Doch ich muss allein hier weilen,
Ist das Liebste mir so fern!

Wolken ihr am Himmelsbogen,
Eilt doch nicht so schnell von mir,
Bin ja oft mit euch gezogen, 
Lasst mich nicht so einsam hier!

Ach sie gehen wie sie kommen,
Hören nicht mein flehend Wort,
Haben mich nicht mitgenommen,
Eilen flüchtig weiter fort!

O so grüsst mir doch die Lieben,
Welche Ferne von mir schied,
Grüsst sie mir, die treu mir blieben,
Bringet ihnen dies mein Lied!

Wolken! segelt durch die Lüfte,
Grüsset mir mein Heimatland!
O dass ich auch mit euch schiffte
An des Himmels blauen Rand.

Einsam weil' ich in der Ferne,
Meine Sehnsucht in der Brust.
Ach! mit euch zög ich so gerne,
Ach, bei euch ist meine Lust!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. From out of the distance
Language: English 
Do you see the clouds scurrying yonder[?]
Yes, I would love to journey with them.
But I have to remain here alone.
What is most dear to me is so far away!

You clouds on the firmament,
Do not hurry away from me so quickly.
I have often traveled with you.
Do not leave me here so alone!

Ah, they go as they come,
They do not hear my beseeching words.
They did not take me along with them, 
They hurry fleetingly onward!

Oh, convey my greetings to the dear ones, 
Whom distance separated from me. 
Greet those who remained true to me.
Bring them this, my song!

Clouds, sail through the skies,
Convey my greetings to my homelad!
Oh, that I could sail with you
On the blue edge of heaven.

Lonely, I tarry far away,
With my longing in my breast.
Ah, I would so much love to travel with you!
Ah, my desires are with you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 159

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Der Schmetterling
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Der Schmetterling", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4 (1838), published 1840/1 [ voice and piano ], München: K. b. Hof Musikalien-Handlung von Falter & Sohn und Jos. Aibl (1840/1); Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott's Söhne (1847)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Schmetterling ist in die Rose verliebt,
Umflattert sie tausendmal,
Ihn selber aber goldig zart
Umflattert der Sonnenstrahl.

doch, in wen ist die Rose verliebt?
Das wüßt' ich gar zu gern.
Ist es die singende Nachtigall?
oder der schweigende Abendstern?

Ich weiß nicht, in wen die Rose verliebt;
Ich aber lieb' euch all:
O Rose, Schmetterling, Sonnenstrahl,
Abendstern und Nachtigall.

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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 241.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. The butterfly
Language: English 
The butterfly is in love with the rose,
Flutters about [the rose] a thousand times,
About the butterfly [with golden tenderness]1
Flutters the [loving sunbeam]2.

However, with whom is the rose in love?
That I would very much like to know.
Is it with the singing nightingale?
[Is it]3 with the silent evening star?

I do not know with whom the rose is in love;
But I, I love you all:
[Rose]4, butterfly, sunbeam,
Evening star and nightingale.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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:
"Alles liebet" = "Everything loves"
"Aus Heine's Neue Gedichte" = "From Heine’s new poems"
"Der Schmetterling" = "The butterfly"
"Der Schmetterling ist in die Rose verliebt = "The butterfly is in love with the rose"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Rosenlied" = "Rose song"
"Wenn ich liebe" = "When I love"

1 Stanford: "golden and tenderly"
2 Lang: "sunbeam"
3 Lang: "or"
4 Lang: "Oh rose"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 84

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. An die Entfernte
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "An die Entfernte", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5 (1839), published 1847 [ soprano and piano ], Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott's Söhne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Diese Rose pflück' ich hier
In der fremden Ferne,
Liebes Herze, dir, ach dir,
Brächt' ich sie so gerne!

Doch bis ich zu dir mag ziehn
Viele weite Meilen,
Ist die Rose längst dahin;
Denn die Rosen eilen.

Nie soll weiter sich in's Land
Lieb' von Liebe wagen,
Als sich blühend in der Hand
Läßt die Rose tragen;

Oder als die Nachtigall
Halme bringt zum Neste,
Oder als ihr süßer Schall
Wandert mit dem Weste.

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
5. To the Distant One
Language: English 
I pick this rose here
In the [unknown]1 distance.
Dear [maiden]2, to you, ah to you
I would bring it so gladly!

But by the time I could travel to you
Many distant miles,
The rose would long be wilted;
For roses hasten [to die].

Never should lovers [venture]3
Farther from each other
Than a blooming rose may be
Carried in a person's hand [without wilting];

Or [farther] than the nightingale
Brings straws to its nest,
Or [farther] than [the nightingale's] sweet sounds
Are carried by the west wind.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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 Mattiesen, Mendelssohn, Schoeck: "great"
2 Lang: "Herze"
3 Bartók: "part"
Translated titles:
An die Entfernte = To the distant one
An die Entfernte I = To the distant one I
Der Entfernten = To the distant one
Diese Rose pflück' ich hier = I pick this rose here
Mit einer Rose = With a rose


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 93

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Namenlos
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Namenlos", alternate title: "Namenloses", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1838), published 1841 [ voice and piano ], Europa, Chronik der gebildeten Welt, Heft 14 (1841), Mainz, Antwerpen, und Brüssel: B. Schott's Söhne (1847)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nimm, was Götter nur verstehen!
Nimm der Liebe ganzen Schmerz!
Nimm, was Götter nicht verschmähen,
Nimm ein ganz zerrissnes Herz!

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by Apollonius August, Freiherr von Maltitz (1795 - 1870)
6. Nameless
Language: English 
Take, what only the gods understand!
Take the whole pain of love!
Take what the gods [themselves] do not spurn,
Take a completely torn heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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This text was added to the website: 2006-12-04
Line count: 4
Word count: 25

Translation © by Sharon Krebs