English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 5

by W. J. Otto Lessmann (1844 - 1918)

1. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen  [sung text not yet checked]
by W. J. Otto Lessmann (1844 - 1918), "Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1869 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am leuchtenden [Sommermorgen]1
Geh' ich im Garten herum.
Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
[Ich aber, ich wandle stumm.]2

Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
Und [schaun]3 mitleidig mich an:
Sei [unserer]4 Schwester nicht böse,
Du trauriger blasser Mann.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 150.

Note for stanza 1, line 4: Heine's first version of this poem had "Ich aber wandle stumm."

1 Gaul: "Frühlingsmorgen"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Schumann: "Ich aber wandle stumm"
3 Franz: "schauen"
4 Franz, R. Schumann: "unsrer"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. On a shining summer morning
Language: English 
On a shining summer morning
I wander around my garden.
The flowers are whispering and speaking;
I, however, wander silently.

The flowers are whispering and speaking
And look at me sympathetically.
"Do not be angry with our sister,
You sad, pale man."

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Glück  [sung text not yet checked]
by W. J. Otto Lessmann (1844 - 1918), "Glück", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1869 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie jauchzt meine Seele
Und singet in sich!
Kaum, daß ich's verhehle,
So glücklich bin ich.

Rings Menschen sich drehen
Und sprechen gescheut,
Ich kann nichts verstehen,
So fröhlich zerstreut. -

Zu eng wird das Zimmer,
Wie glänzet das Feld,
Die Täler voll Schimmer,
Weit, herrlich die Welt!

Gepreßt bricht die Freude
Durch Riegel und Schloß,
Fort über die Heide!
Ach, hätt' ich ein Roß! -

Und frag' ich und sinn' ich,
Wie so mir geschehn? -
Mein Liebchen herzinnig,
Das soll ich heut' sehn.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2.
Language: English 
How my soul rejoices
And sings within!
I can hardly conceal
How happy I am.

Everyone turns around
And speaks timidly,
I don’t understand anything,
So happy amused.

The room feels too close,
How the meadow gleams,
The valleys all a-shimmer,
Glorious the wide world!

Condensed, joy breaks
Through latch and lock,
Forth over the moor!
Ah, if only I had a horse!

And I ask and I ponder,
How is this happening to me?
The dearest one of my heart,
Who I will see today.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-07-12
Line count: 20
Word count: 86

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Wenn ich auf dem Lager  [sung text not yet checked]
by W. J. Otto Lessmann (1844 - 1918), "Wenn ich auf dem Lager", op. 5 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1869 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich auf dem Lager liege
In Nacht [und Kissen]1 gehüllt,
So schwebt mir vor ein süßes,
Anmutig liebes Bild!

Wenn mir der stille Schlummer
Geschlossen die Augen kaum,
So schleicht [das Bild sich leise]2
Hinein in meinen Traum

[Doch]3 mit dem Traum des Morgens
Zerrinnt es nimmermehr;
Dann trag' ich es im Herzen
Den ganzen Tag umher.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine's Sämmtliche Werke, Erster Band: Reisebilder, Dritte Auflage, Philadelphia: Verlag von John Weik, 1856, pages 29-30.

1 omitted by Mendelssohn
2 Lang: "das liebe Bild"
3 Lang: "Und"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. When I lie on the bed
Language: English 
When I lie on the bed, 
shrouded in night and cushions, 
So floats before me a sweet,
lovely dear image.

When silent slumber 
has barely closed my eyes, 
So creeps the image quietly
into my dream.

And in the morning 
it never fades away with the dream:
Then I carry it about with me in my heart 
the whole day.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by David K. Smythe