English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 5

by Gustav Langer (1830 - 1889)

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1. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Langer (1830 - 1889), "Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich in deine Augen [seh']1,
So schwindet [all' mein Leid]2 und Weh; 
Doch wenn ich küße deinen Mund,
So werd' ich ganz und gar gesund.

Wenn ich mich lehn' an deine Brust,
Kommt's über mich wie Himmelslust;
Doch wenn du sprichst: ich liebe dich!
[So]3 muß ich weinen bitterlich.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 114.

1 Hensel: "sehe"
2 Franz, Dresel: "alles Leid"
3 Wolf: "Dann"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. When I gaze into your eyes
Language: English 
When I gaze into your eyes,
All my pain and woe vanishes;
Yet when I kiss your lips,
I am made wholly and entirely healthy.

When I lay against your breast
It comes over me like longing for heaven;
Yet when you say, "I love you!"
I must cry so bitterly.

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.
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Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Langer (1830 - 1889), "Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, from Der arme Peter, no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum,
Und jauchzen vor lauter Freude.
Der Peter steht so still und [stumm]1,
Und ist so blaß wie Kreide.

Der Hans und die Grete sind Bräut'gam und Braut,
Und blitzen im Hochzeitgeschmeide.
Der arme Peter die Nägel kaut
Und geht im Werkeltagskleide.

Der Peter spricht leise vor sich her,
Und [schaut]2 betrübet auf Beide:
« Ach! wenn ich nicht gar zu vernünftig wär',
Ich [thät']3 mir was zu Leide.»

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, zweiundfünfzigste Auflage (52nd edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1882, page 52.

1 Schumann: "so stumm"
2 Schumann: "schauet"
3 Schumann: "thäte"; modernized spelling would be "täte"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Hans and Grete dance around
Language: English 
 Hans and Grete dance around
 and cheer with loud joy.
 Peter stands so still and mute,
 and is as pale as chalk.
 
 Hans and Grete are bride and groom,
 flashing in their wedding clothes.
 Poor Peter bites his nails
 and goes about in workday clothes.
 
 Peter speaks softly to himself,
 gazing gloomily at the pair:
 Ah, if I weren't so sensible,
 I might do myself harm.

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: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3.   [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Langer (1830 - 1889), no title, op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, from Der arme Peter, no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der arme Peter wankt vorbei,
Gar langsam, leichenblaß und scheu.
Es bleiben fast, wie sie ihn sehn,
Die Leute auf der Straße stehn.

Die Mädchen flüstern sich ins Ohr:
"Der stieg wohl aus dem Grab hervor?"
Ach nein, ihr lieben Jungfräulein,
Der steigt erst [ins]1 Grab hinein.

Er hat verloren seinen Schatz,
Drum ist das Grab der beste Platz,
Wo er am besten liegen mag
Und schlafen bis zum jüngsten Tag.

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, zweiundfünfzigste Auflage (52nd edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1882, page 53.

1 Schumann: "in das"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3.
Language: English 
 Poor Peter staggers past,
 quite slowly, as pale as a corpse, and shy.
 When they see him, 
 the people in the street almost stop in their tracks.
 
 Maidens whisper in one another's ears:
 "Surely he has risen from the grave!"
 But no, dear young girls,
 he has not yet climbed into his grave.
 
 He has lost his love;
 therefore the grave is the best place for him.
 There he might best lie
 and sleep until Judgment Day.

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: 78

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. In meiner Brust da sitzt ein Weh  [sung text not yet checked]
by Gustav Langer (1830 - 1889), "In meiner Brust da sitzt ein Weh", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, from Der arme Peter, no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"In meiner Brust, da sitzt ein Weh,
Das will die Brust zersprengen;
Und wo ich steh' und wo ich geh',
Will's mich von hinnen drängen.

"Es treibt mich nach der Liebsten Näh',
Als könnt die Grete heilen;
Doch wenn ich der ins Auge seh',
Muß ich von hinnen eilen.

"Ich steig' hinauf des Berges Höh',
Dort ist man doch alleine;
Und wenn ich still dort oben steh',
Dann steh' ich still und weine."

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, zweiundfünfzigste Auflage (52nd edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1882, pages 52-53.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Within my heart there lies an ache
Language: English 
"Within my heart there lies an ache
that will break my heart apart;
wherever I stay, wherever I go,
it is always pushing me onward.

"It drives me to my beloved's presence,
as if Grete could heal it;
but when I look her in the eye,
I must hurry away from there.

"I climb to the heights of the mountain,
for there one can be alone;
and when I stay up there silently,
then I stand mutely and weep."

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: 79

Translation © by Emily Ezust