English translations of Sechs deutsche Lieder, opus 15

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Den Abschied schnell genommen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Den Abschied schnell genommen", op. 15 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 1 (1838), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Nur den Abschied schnell genommen,
Nicht gezaudert, nicht geklagt,
Schneller als die Thränen kommen,
Losgerissen, unverzagt.

  Aus den Armen losgewunden,
Wie dies in der Brust auch brennt,
Was im Leben sich gefunden,
Wird im Leben auch getrennt.

  Sollst du tragen, mußt du tragen,
Trage nur mit festem Sinn,
Deine Seufzer, deine Klagen
Wehen in die Lüfte hin.

  Soll der Schmerz dich nicht bezwingen,
So bezwinge du den Schmerz,
Und verwelkte Blüthen schlingen
Frisch sich um dein wundes Herz.

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by Johann Ludwig Ferdinand von Deinhard-Deinhardstein (1794 - 1859) and sometimes misattributed to Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856)
1. Take farewell quickly
Language: English 
  Only take leave quickly,
Do not linger, do not lament,
More quickly than the tears can come,
Tear yourself away!

  Disentangle yourself from [each other's] arms,
No matter how much it burns in your breast!
[Those] who have found each other in this life
Are also separated from each other in this life.

  If you are destined to bear, if you must bear [pain],
Only bear it with a steadfast spirit!
Your sighs, your laments
Are wafted away in the breezes!

  If pain is not to overcome you,
You must overcome pain,
And wilted flowers, refreshed, shall twine
Themselves around your sore heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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: 2006-12-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 104

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

2. Lied 
Mag da draußen Schnee sich türmen,
Mag es hageln, mag es stürmen,
Klirrend [an mein Fenster]1 schlagen,
Nimmer will ich mich beklagen!
Denn ich trage in der Brust
Liebchens Bild und Frühlingslust.

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1 Raff: "mir ans Fenster"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor] 
 Muß ich in der Wüste hausen,
 In der Wildniß, in der grausen,
 Wo nur Sand und Sonne glühen,
 Lieblich wird es in mir blühen!
 Denn, ich trage in der Brust
 Liebchens Bild und Frühlings Lust!

 Ob die Nacht mit ihren Schauern,
 Ob Gefahren mich umlauern,
 Ob sie dräuen, ob sie wüten,
 Wird ein Engel mich behüten!
 Denn, ich trage in der Brust
 Liebchens Bild und Frühlings Lust!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): E. Meier , Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Must I live in the desert
Though the snow piles up outdoors,
Though it hails, though it storms,
[Though it] rattles against my window,
Never shall I complain!
For I carry in my breast
The image of my beloved and the rapture of spring!

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:
In der Brust = In my breast Liebchens Bild = My beloved's image Mag da draussen Schnee sich thürmen = Though the snow piles up outdoors Mag da draußen Schnee sich türmen = Though the snow piles up outdoors Mag da drauszen =Though outdoors



Must I live in the desert,
In the dreadful wilderness,
Where only sand and sun smolder,
It shall bloom beautifully within me!
For I carry in my breast
The image of my beloved and the rapture of spring!

If night with its terrors,
If dangers loom about me,
If they threaten, if they rage,
An angel shall protect me!
For I carry in my breast
The image of my beloved and the rapture of spring!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 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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Translation © by Sharon Krebs

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

3. A ballad 
Let the flash split heav'n asunder,
Let the snow fall, let it thunder,
Sharply 'gainst my casement hailing;
Never hear ye me bewailing,
Since I carry in my breast,
Love's eternal Spring of rest.

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
Though I roam with mazy error,
Through the desert's barren terror
Where but sand in sunfire gloweth,
Freshness still within me bloweth,
Since I carry in my breast,
Love's eternal Spring of rest.

Reign, dark Night with dismal power,
Come ye Dangers, o'er me lower!
Should the worst of ills betide me
Still an angel guards beside me,
For, I carry in my breast,
Love's eternal Spring of rest!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): J. Wrey Mould
4. In weite Ferne
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "In weite Ferne", alternate title: "Ferne", op. 15 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 3 (<<1840), published 1840/1 [ voice and piano ], note: incorrectly attributed to Heine on the score; München: K. b. Hof Musikalien-Handlung von Falter & Sohn und Jos. Aibl (1840/1); Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel (1848)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In weite Ferne will ich träumen,
Da, wo Du weilst!
Wo aus den schneeig hellen Räumen
Die Bäche in die Seen schäumen!
Da, wo Du weilst!

Will mit Dir durch die Berge streifen,
Da, wo Du weilst. 
Wo auf dem Eisfeld Gemsen schweifen, 
Im warmen Tale Feigen reifen!
Da, wo Du weilst! 

Und heimlich will ich weiter lieben,
Wenn Du heimkehrst! 
Es soll die Zeit mich nicht betrüben,
Wir sind dieselben noch geblieben!
Wenn Du heimkehrst!

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by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884) and sometimes misattributed to Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Into the far distance
Language: English 
I wish to dream into the far [distance]1!
There where you tarry,
Where from the snowy, bright expanses
The brooks flow foamingly into the lakes!
There where you tarry.

I wish to wander through the mountains with you!
There where you tarry,
Where the mountain goats ramble on the glaciers,
Where the figs ripen in the warm valleys!
There where you tarry.

I shall secretly continue to [love]2,
When you return home!
[The passing of] time [shall]3 not sadden me,
We have remained unchanged!
When you return home!

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 Mendelssohn: "distances"
2 Mendelssohn: "think"
3 Mendelssohn: "may"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 15
Word count: 92

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

5. Lied 
Lüftchen, ihr plaudert so viel und so laut,
Hab' euch doch nie ein Geheimnis vertraut!
Nein! ach nein! ich schweige still,
Weil ich ja ewig schweigen will!
 ...

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Note: the published Lang score mentions Byron as the poet, but no candidate for the original has yet been found for this stanza, only for the second stanza of the song. The catalog Periodica musicalia mentions the setting by Georg Müller and attributes these lines to A. de M.; the Gollmick score gives the poet as A. d. M.

Note: Rungenhagen inserts "nein, nein" a number of times with his repetitions of the text of the last line of each stanza.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
 ... 

Vergebens sind ja Schmerz und Thränen
  Für Herzen, die getrennt,
Doch fliegt durch Land und Meer mein Sehnen
  Zum Herzen das mich kennt.

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Confirmed with Taschenbuch der ausländischen Klassiker, in neuen Verdeutschungen, No. 189, Vier und zwanzigstes Bändchen, Lord Byron's Poesien. Aus dem Englischen, übersetzt von Elise von Hohenhausen, geb. von Ochs, Zwickau: im Verlage der Gebrüder Schumann, 1827, pages 118-121. Beneath the title: "Gedichtet den 11ten October 1809, während einer Sturmnacht, nahe der ehemals Pindus genannten Gebirgsreihe, in Albanien, als unsre Wegweiser die Strasse nach Zitza verloren hatten."

Note to Stanza 15, line 1: The published poem contains a footnote identifying "Calypsa's Insel" as "Sizilien."


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
Author(s): Elisabeth Philippine Amalie, Freifrau von Hohenhausen (1789 - 1857), Henriette Eleonore Agnes Gräfin zu Stolberg-Stolberg, née von Witzleben (1761 - 1788), Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
5. Song
Little breezes, you murmur so much and so loudly.
Yet I have never entrusted you with a secret!
No! ah no! I remain silent,
Because I plan to remain silent forever!
 ...

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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Translated titles:
"Die plaudernden Lüftchen" = "The chattering little breezes"
"Das Geheimniss" = "The secret"
"Lüftchen, ihr plaudert" = "Little breezes, you murmur"
"Lied" = "Song"

Note: Rungenhagen inserts "nein, nein" (in English: "no, no") a number of times with his repetitions of the text of the last line of each stanza.



 ... 

Pain and tears are for naught
  In hearts that are separated;
Yet my longing soars over land and sea
  To the heart that knows me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Translation of the note below the title: "Written on 11 October 1809 during a stormy night, close to the mountain range formerly called Pindus, in Albania, when our guides had lost the road to Zitza."

Note to Stanza 15, line 1: The published poem contains a footnote identifying "Calypsa's island" as "Sicily."



Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Der Winter
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Der Winter", op. 15 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 5, published 1848, stanzas 1,3,4 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Winter ist ein böser Gast, ich fürcht ihn wie Gespenster,
Die schönste Aussicht raubt er mir durch seine Doppelfenster;
Was nützen mir die Blumen all', die er ans Fenster malt,
Wenn nicht der Blumen Königin dem Aug' entgegenstrahlt.

 ... 

Der Winter ist ein schlimmer Mann, ich fürcht ihn gleich dem Tode,
Der ganzen Welt macht er was weiß, das wurde längst zur Mode;
Was nützet solche Weisheit mir, der es an Licht gebricht,
Seh' ich das strahlend' Augenpaar am Doppelfenster nicht.

Der Winter ist ein böser Mann, ich fürcht' ihn gleich dem Fluche;
Er tödtet alle Wärme ja mit seinem Leichentuche;
Was nützet mir das schöne Kind am hohen Fensterlein,
Dringt jene rauhe Kälte auch, ins Herz der Holden ein!

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Confirmed with Der Bazar für München und Bayern. Ein Frühstücks-Blatt für Jedermann und jede Frau, Nro. 292 (12. Dezember 1833), page 1172.

by Leopold Feldmann (1802 - 1882)
6. Winter
Language: English 
Winter is an wicked guest, I fear him as much as I fear ghosts,
He robs me of the most beautiful view by the double-paned windows he creates [through frost];
Of what use to me are the flowers [crystals] that he paints on the window,
If the queen of flowers does not glow before my eyes!

[ ... ]

Winter is an [arrogant chap]1, I fear him as much as I fear death,
He whitewashes the whole world; that has long been the fashion;
Of what use to me is that sort of wisdom, which lacks illumination,
When I cannot see the radiant pair of eyes at the double-paned window.

Winter is a [fierce animal,]2 I fear him as much as a curse;
He kills all warmth for me with his shroud;
Of what use to me is the beautiful child at the window on high,
If that rough coldness also penetrates into the lovely one's heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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Note to stanza 3, line 2: "whitewashes the whole world" is a literal translation; this is actually a pun -- "jemandem etwas weis machen" means "to fool someone"

1 Lang: "nasty man"
2 Lang: " wicked man"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-05
Line count: 16
Word count: 204

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
7. Sehnen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Sehnen", op. 15 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 6 (1836), published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was erfüllt mit bangem Sehnen,
Rastlos dich, du armes Herz[?]
Was begehren diese Tränen,
Was erregt so heissen Schmerz?
Ach! ich kann mich nicht mehr freuen,
Wie auch pranget die Natur.
Mag der Frühling sich erneuen,
Mir erneu't der Schmerz sich nur!

Dieses Klopfen, dieses Brennen,
Wohl fühl' ich, dass mich's verzehrt,
Ach! und kann es doch nicht nennen,
Was das Herz so heiss begehrt.
Möcht' mich in den Fluten wiegen,
Möchte mit den Wolken zieh'n,
Mit den Vögeln möcht' ich fliegen,
Und weiss selber nicht wohin.

Aus der Freude Kreis alleine
Flieh' ich dann mit meinem Schmerz.
Niemand weiss warum ich weine,
Mich vermisst kein liebend Herz!
Nimm mich denn, o kühle Erde,
In die Mutterarme du,
Dass dem armen Herzen werde
Endlich die ersehnte Ruh'!

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by Josephine Stieler née von Miller (1809 - 1890)
7. Longing
Language: English 
What fills you with anxious longing
So restlessly, you poor heart[?]
What do these tears desire,
What arouses such intense pain?
Ah! I can no longer be happy,
No matter how nature revels in her glory.
Spring may renew itself,
But for me, all that is renewed is my pain!

This beating, this burning,
I feel all too well that it consumes me,
Ah! and yet I cannot say
What my heart desires so burningly.
I would like to rock myself in the floodwaters,
I would like to soar with the clouds,
I would like to fly with the birds,
Yet I know not where I wish to go.

From the circle of happiness
I flee with my pain.
No one knows why I am crying,
No loving heart misses me!
Oh cool earth, take me then
Into your maternal arms,
So that my poor heart can
Finally find the yearned-for rest!

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: 2006-12-05
Line count: 24
Word count: 152

Translation © by Sharon Krebs