English translations of Sechs deutsche Lieder, opus 40

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

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1. Sonnenblick
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Sonnenblick", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 1 (1864), published 1867 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kleine Blume im engen Thal,
Dich auch fand ein Sonnenstrahl!
Armes Herz in der kranken Brust,
Dir auch ward der Liebe Lust.

Und die Blume das Köpfchen hing,
Als die Sonne weiter ging,
Und das Herz es brach entzwei
Als das kurze Glück vorbei!

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by Albert Träger (1830 - 1912)
1. Sunny glimpse
Language: English 
Little flower in the narrow valley,
[The rays of the sun]1 found you too;
Poor heart in the sick bosom,
You too have experienced love's joy.

And the flower hung its little head
When the sun passed on;
And the heart broke in two
When the short happiness was past!

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:
Sonnenblicke = Sunny glimpses
Sonnenblick = Sunny glimpse
1 Lang: "A sunbeam"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Mailied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Mailied", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 2 (1833), published 1867 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wie herrlich leuchtet
Mir die Natur!
Wie glänzt die Sonne!
Wie lacht die Flur!

  Es dringen Blühten
Aus jedem Zweig
Und tausend Stimmen
Aus dem Gesträuch,

  Und Freud und Wonne
Aus jeder Brust.
O Erd', o Sonne!
O Glück, o Lust!

  O Lieb', o Liebe! 
So golden schön,
Wie Morgenwolken
Auf jenen Höhn!

  Du segnest herrlich
Das frische Feld,
Im Blütendampfe
Die volle Welt.

  O Mädchen, Mädchen, 
Wie lieb ich dich!
Wie blickt dein Auge,
Wie liebst du mich!

  So liebt die Lerche
Gesang und Luft,
Und Morgenblumen
Den Himmelsduft.

  Wie ich dich liebe
Mit warmem Blut,
Die du mir Jugend
Und Freud und Mut

  Zu neuen Liedern
Und Tänzen gibst.
Sey ewig glücklich,
Wie du mich liebst!

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See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. How marvellously does Nature shine for me!
Language: English 
How marvellously 
does Nature shine for me!
How the sun gleams!
How the meadow laughs!

Blossoms burst forth 
From every branch
And a thousand voices
From the bushes!

And joy and bliss 
From every breast;
O Earth, o Sun, 
o Happiness, o Joy!

O love, o darling!
So golden fair,
As morning clouds
On yonder heights!

You bless marvellously
The fresh field,
In a mist of blossoms, 
The full world.

O maiden, maiden,
How I love you!
O how you gaze at me,
O how you love me!

The lark loves
Song and Breeze,
And morning flowers,
The dew of heaven,

As I love you 
With blood on fire,
You who give me youth
And joy and cheer

For new songs 
And new dances.
Be forever happy
In loving me so!

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: 36
Word count: 131

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Im Wasser wogt die Lilie
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Im Wasser wogt die Lilie", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 3 (1865), published 1867 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Wasser wogt die Lilie, die schlanke, hin und her!
Doch irrst du, Freund, sobald du sagst, sie schwanke hin und her!
Es wurzelt ja so fest ihr Fuß auf tiefem Meeresgrund.
Ihr Haupt nur wiegt ein lieblicher Gedanke hin und her!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
3. The lily undulates in the water
Language: English 
The lily, the [shining]1 one, undulates back and forth in the water!
Yet you are wrong, my friend, when you aver that she is tottering precariously back and forth!
For her foot is so firmly rooted [in]2 the deep seabed;
Only her head, moved by a lovely thought, rocks back and forth!

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.
    Contact: 

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Translated titles:
"Ghasele" = "Ghazal"
"Im Wasser wogt die Lilie" = "The lily undulates in the water"

1 Lang: "slender"
2 Lang: "upon"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 4
Word count: 54

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", alternate title: "Wehe, so willst du mich wieder", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 4 (1839), published 1840/1 [ medium voice and piano ], München: K. b. Hof Musikalien-Handlung von Falter & Sohn und Jos. Aibl (1840/1); Europa, Chronik der gebildeten Welt, Heft 1 (1841); Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer (1867)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wehe, so willst du mich wieder,
Hemmende Fessel, umfangen?
Auf, und hinaus in die Luft!
Ströme der Seele Verlangen,
Ström' es in brausende Lieder,
Saugend ätherischen Duft!

Strebe dem Wind nur entgegen
Daß er die Wange dir kühle,
Grüße den Himmel mit Lust!
Werden sich bange Gefühle
Im Unermeßlichen regen?
Athme den Feind aus der Brust!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
4. Alas, so you would again
Language: English 
Alas, so you would again,
You hindering shackles, imprison me?
Up and out into the air!
Out streams the longing of the soul,
flowing out in clamorous songs,
Inhaling ethereal fragrances!

Struggle against the wind,
That it might cool your cheeks,
Greet the heavens with joy!
Will timid emotions
Move you as you gaze upon the Infinite?
Exhale the foe from out of your breast!

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Und wüßten's die Blumen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Und wüßten's die Blumen", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 5 (1864), published 1867 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen,
Wie tief verwundet mein Herz,
Sie würden mit mir weinen,
Zu heilen meinen Schmerz.

Und wüßten's die Nachtigallen,
Wie ich so traurig und krank,
Sie ließen fröhlich erschallen
Erquickenden Gesang.

Und wüßten sie mein Wehe,
Die goldnen Sternelein,
Sie kämen aus ihrer Höhe,
Und sprächen Trost mir ein.

Die alle können's nicht wissen,
Nur eine kennt meinen Schmerz;
Sie hat ja selbst zerrissen,
Zerrissen mir das Herz.

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Note: Christian Jost's setting begins "Zerrissen mir das Herz" (the last line) and then follows the rest of the text.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
Language: English 
And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
How deeply wounded is my heart,
They would weep with me
To heal my pain.

And if the nightingales knew
How sad and ill I am,
They would let forth merrily
A refreshing song.

And if they knew my woe -
The little golden stars -
They would come down from their heights
And speak their consolation to me.

But all of them could not know this,
Only one knows my pain;
She herself has indeed torn,
Torn my heart in two.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
6. Ständchen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Ständchen", op. 40 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 6 (1865), published 1867 [ medium voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Theodor Stürmer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wach auf, Du schöne Träumerin, wach auf!
Der Trennung lange Nacht ist hin, wach auf!
Vergangen ist nun Leid und Noth,
Dein Liebster kommt im Morgenroth,
Wach' auf!

Die Lerchen singen vor ihm her: wach auf!
Zu seinen Füßen rauscht das Wehr: wach auf!
Was Ton und Stimme hat, das singt,
Daß Dir's durch alle Fenster klingt:
Wach auf!

In's Kämmerlein, in's Herz hinein: wach auf!
Die Erde liegt im Sonnenschein, wach auf!
Und Lenz und Lieb' erfüllt den Sinn --
Wach auf, du schöne Träumerin,
Wach auf!

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Note: modern German would change the following spellings: "Noth" -> "Not", "Morgenroth" -> "Morgenrot", etc.

by Julius Rodenberg (1831 - 1914)
6. Serenade
Language: English 
Awaken, you beautiful dreamer, awaken!
The long night of separation has past, awaken!
Sorrow and vexation are now over,
Your beloved comes with the dawn,
Awaken!

The larks are singing before him: awaken!
At his feet the weir is murmuring: awaken!
Everything that has a voice or can make a sound is singing
So that it resounds through all your windows;
Awaken!

Into your little chamber, into your heart: awaken!
The world is basking in sunshine, awaken!
And spring and love fills one’s spirit --
Awaken, you beautiful dreamer,
Awaken!

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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Translated titles:
Ständchen = Serenade
Wach' auf, Du schöne Träumerin! = Awaken, you beautiful dreamer!


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 15
Word count: 89

Translation © by Sharon Krebs