English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 25

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Frühlings‑Glaube
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Frühlings-Glaube", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1833), published 1860, rev. 1857 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Friedrich Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die linden Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie säuseln und weben Tag und Nacht,
Sie schaffen an allen Enden.
O frischer Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun armes Herze, sey nicht bang!
Nun muß sich Alles, Alles wenden.

Die Welt wird schöner mit jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch werden mag,
Das Blühen will nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, tiefste Thal.
Nun armes Herz, vergiß der Qual!
Nun muß sich Alles, Alles wenden.

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Note: some editions have a typo in stanza 1, line 2: word 4 is "wehen". Curschmann and Lachner's scores also have this typo.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1.
Language: English 
Balmy breezes are awakened,
They whisper and move day and night,
And everywhere creative.
O fresh scent, o new sound!
Now, poor heart, don't be afraid.
Now all, all must change.

With each day the world grows fairer,
One cannot know what is still to come,
The flowering refuses to cease.
Even the deepest, most distant valley is in flower.
Now, poor heart, forget your torment.
Now all, all must change.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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 title "Frühlingsglaube" = "Spring faith"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by David Gordon

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

2. Winterseufzer 
Der Himmel ist so hell und blau,
O wäre 
wär' die Erde grün!
Der Wind ist 
weht scharf, o wär' er lau!
Es schimmert der Schnee, o wär' es Thau!
O wäre 
wär' die Erde grün!

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Confirmed with Gesammelte Werke des Grafen August von Platen, Stuttgart und Tübingen: J.G. Cotta'schen Verlag, 1839, page 17.


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
Wie ist der Tag so frostig klar,
O schien die Sonne warm!
Der eisige Nord, wär's Zephirluft!
Der Nebelhauch, wär's Blütenduft!
O schien die Sonne warm!

Es schläft das Tal im Feierkleid,
O wann erwacht der Lenz?
Der See ist erstarrt, o spielt' die Well'!
Der Vogel verstummt, o säng' er hell!
Wann wird die Erde grün!

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
Author(s): Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
2. Winter sighs
The sky is so bright and blue;
Oh, if the earth were green!
The wind blows so sharply; oh, if it were blowing mildly!
The snow is shimmering; oh, if it were dew!
Oh, if the earth were green!

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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How frostily clear is the day;
Oh, if the sun were shining warmly!
The icy north wind, if it were but a zephyr!
The breath of fog, if it were the scent of flowers!
Oh, if the sun were shining warmly!

The valley is sleeping in a fancy dress.
Oh, when shall spring awaken?
The lake is frozen; oh, if but the wave were playing!
The bird has fallen silent; oh, if it were but singing brightly!
Oh, when shall spring awaken? When will the earth become green?

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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Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Barcarole
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Barcarole", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3 (1839), published 1860 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Friedrich Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nimm du mein Schifflein, freundliche Wiege,
  Zwischen zwey Himmel rettend mich auf,
Furche die Bläue und es besiege
  Tändelnde Wellen spielend dein Lauf.

Sinket und steiget wechselnden Schlages
  Plätschernde Ruder, hüpfendes Herz!
Ungleiche Kinder seligen Tages,
  Schenket die Liebe, Freude und Schmerz.

Günstige Lüfte, treibet nach Morgen,
  Füllet die Segel, kräuselt die Fluth!
Weichet, Abend, grämliche Sorgen!
  Lächle mir Hoffnung fröhlichen Muth!

Gaukelnde Möven, bunte Libellen,
  Springende Fischlein folget der Fahrt!
Glückliche wollen mir sich gesellen
  Seit ich von Herzen glücklicher ward.

Feiert ihr Ruder, Segel hernieder!
  Lande nur sachte, gleitender Kahn!
Fluthender Spiegel, siehst mich nicht wieder,
  Ebne des Schiffers schwindende Bahn.

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by August Schumacher (1790 - 1864)
3. Barcarole
Language: English 
Friendly cradle, take my little boat,
  Rescue me between two heavens;
Make furrows in the blueness and may the course you travel
  Easily conquer the dallying waves.

Rise and fall in alternating strokes,
  Splashing oars, leaping heart!
Love gives us unequal children 
  [On the same day]1, joy [like]2 sorrow!

Favourable winds, blow toward morning,
  Fill the sails, ruffle the waters!
[Be off toward evening]3, morose anxieties!
  Hope, bring me smilingly a happy spirit!

Fluttering seagulls, colourful dragonflies,
  Leaping little fish, follow [my] journey!
Happy people wish to gather around me
  Since I myself became happier with all my heart.

Rest, ye oars, down with the sails!
  Be sure to land gently, floating boat!
Mirror on the water, you shall not see me again,
  Smooth the boatman's vanishing pathway.

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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Lang: "On blissful days"
2 Lang: "and"
3 Lang: "Be off, evening"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4 (1834), published 1860 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Friedrich Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer sich rein
Kindlich erfreu'n,
    Selig, wer's kann.
Jubeln und singen,
Hüpfen und springen,
    Selig, wer's kann.
Lachen und scherzen
Mit fröhlichem Herzen,
    Selig, wer's kann.
Sorgen zerstreuen,
Gerne verzeihen,
    Selig, wer's kann.
Menschen beglücken,
Welch' ein Entzücken!
    Selig, wer's kann.
Böses nicht messen
Und Vieles vergessen,
    Selig, wer's kann.

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by Wilhelm Heilwig Carl Robert August von Ungern-Sternberg (1777 - 1847)
4. Song
Language: English 
Always to be purely happy
Like a little child,
    Happy is he who can do so.
To rejoice and to sing,
To hop and leap about,
    Happy is he who can do so.
To laugh and to jest
With a joyful heart,
    Happy is he who can do so.
To scatter the anxieties [of others],
To forgive gladly,
    Happy is he who can do so.
To make people happy,
What ecstasy!
    Happy is he who can do so.
Not to reckon up the evil deeds [of others]
And to forget much,
    Happy is he who can do so.

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: 2006-12-11
Line count: 18
Word count: 98

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Die Wolken
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Die Wolken", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1860 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Friedrich Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Rasch wie die Pfeile zieh'n sie dahin,
Ach! Dass du wüsstest, wie weit und wohin[!]
Flögest so gerne von hinnen!
Leicht wie der Vogel im luftigen Raum,
Flögest du dort in der Wolke Saum,
Leben und Licht zu gewinnen!

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Note: the text is misattributed to C. Köstlin on the score, but is likely by Lang's son Felix.

sometimes misattributed to Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856) and by Felix Reinhold Köstlin (1842 - 1867)
5. The clouds
Language: English 
Quickly as arrows they go by.
Oh, if you but knew how far and whereto!
You would be so glad to fly from here!
Lightly as birds in the airy expanse
You would fly there at the edge of the clouds,
To attain light and life!

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: 2006-12-11
Line count: 6
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
6. Das Paradies
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Das Paradies", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1860, stanzas 2-4 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Friedrich Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

Im Paradiese muß ein Fluß
    Der ew'gen Liebe rinnen,
    Und jede Sehnsuchtthräne muß
    Seyn eine Perle drinnen.

Im Paradiese muß ein Hauch
    Der Schmerzenstillung wehen,
    Und jedes Leid, und deines auch,
    Muß aufgelöst vergehen.

Da steht des Friedens kühler Baum
    Gepflanzt auf grünen Räumen,
    Und drunter muß ein stiller Traum
    Von Ruh und Glück sich träumen.

 ...

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
6. Paradise
Language: English 
[ ... ]

In paradise there must flow
    A river of eternal love!
    And every tear of longing
    Must be a pearl within it.

In paradise there must waft
    A zephyr that stills pain!
    [Such that every pain, and mine]1 as well,
    Must dissolve and disappear in it!

There stands the cool tree of peace
    Planted in green spaces,
    And under [that tree] it must be possible to dream
    A quiet dream of rest and happiness.

[ ... ]

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 Lang: "And every sorrow, and yours"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-11
Line count: 56
Word count: 346

Translation © by Sharon Krebs