English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 2

by Albert Levinsohn (d. c1907)

1. Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Levinsohn (d. c1907), "Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche", op. 2 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1866
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich lieb' eine Blume, doch weiß ich nicht welche;
Das macht mir Schmerz.
Ich schau' in alle Blumenkelche
Und such' ein Herz.

Es duften die Blumen im Abendscheine,
Die Nachtigall schlägt.
Ich such' ein Herz, so schön wie das meine,
So schön bewegt.

Die Nachtigall schlägt, und ich verstehe
Den süßen Gesang:
Uns beiden ist so bang' und wehe,
So weh und bang.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. I love a flower
Language: English 
I love a flower, if 'tis requited, I know not,
that gives me pain.
I look into all flower-blooms
and seek a heart.

Flowers are fragrant in the evening-light;
the nightingale sings,
I search for a heart, as beautiful as mine,
that moves as beautifully.

The nightingale sings, and I understand
the sweet song:
we're both so anxious and sad,
so sad and anxious.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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: 64

Translation © by John H. Campbell
2. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Levinsohn (d. c1907), "Frühlingslied", op. 2 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1866
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dem Walde sprießt und grünt es
Fast jüngfräulich lustbeklommen;
Doch die Sonne [lacht]1 herunter:
Junger Frühling, sei willkommen!

Nachtigall! auch dich schon hör' ich,
Wie du flötest selig trübe
Schluchzend langgezogne Töne,
Und dein Lied ist lauter Liebe!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 240.

1 Hohfeld: "scheint"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Spring song
Language: English 
In the forest it blooms and greens
almost virginally full of desire;
yet the sun laughs down:
young Spring, welcome!

Nightingale, I already hear
how you sing, blissfully sad,
long, sobbing tones,
and your song is pure love!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John W. Grubbs, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by John W. Grubbs