English translations of Drei Lieder aus H. Heines Reisebildern, opus 51

by George Alexander MacFarren (1813 - 1887)

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1. Das Meer hat seine Perlen  [sung text not yet checked]
by George Alexander MacFarren (1813 - 1887), "Das Meer hat seine Perlen", op. 51 (Drei Lieder aus H. Heines Reisebildern) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Meer hat seine Perlen,
Der Himmel hat seine Sterne,
Aber mein Herz, mein Herz,
Mein Herz hat seine Liebe.

Groß ist das Meer und der Himmel,
Doch größer ist mein Herz,
Und schöner als Perlen und Sterne
Leuchtet und strahlt meine Liebe.

Du kleines, junges Mädchen,
Komm an mein großes Herz;
Mein Herz und das Meer und der Himmel
Vergehn vor lauter Liebe.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. By the sea
Language: English 
The sea has its pearls
the sky [has] its stars
but my heart, my heart
my heart has its love.

The sea and the sky are big
but my heart is even bigger
and my heart twinkles and shines
more beautifully than pearls and stars.

You small, young girl,
come to my big heart;
my heart, the sea and the sky
are dying of loud love.]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2005-04-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
2. Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen  [sung text not yet checked]
by George Alexander MacFarren (1813 - 1887), "Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen", op. 51 (Drei Lieder aus H. Heines Reisebildern) no. 2, published 1845
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen,
Und ertrage dein Geschick.
Neuer Frühling [giebt]1 zurück,
Was der Winter dir genommen.

  Und wie viel ist dir geblieben!
Und wie schön ist noch die Welt!
Und mein Herz, was dir gefällt,
Alles, alles darfst du lieben!

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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 136.

Note: contemporary German spelling would change "giebt" to "gibt".

1 Bruné: "bringt"; Lachner: "gibt dir"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed
Language: English 
Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed,
and bear your fate:
a new Spring will give back
what Winter has taken from you.

Just think how many things remain,
and how fair is the world!
And, my heart, whatever you find pleasing,
anything, everything - you may love!

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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Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Was will die einsame Träne  [sung text not yet checked]
by George Alexander MacFarren (1813 - 1887), "Was will die einsame Träne", op. 51 (Drei Lieder aus H. Heines Reisebildern) no. 3, published 1845
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was will die einsame Thräne?
Sie trübt mir ja den Blick.
Sie blieb aus alten Zeiten
In meinem Auge zurück.

Sie [hatte]1 viel' leuchtende Schwestern,
Die alle zerflossen sind,
Mit meinen Qualen und Freuden,
Zerflossen in Nacht und Wind.

Wie Nebel sind auch zerflossen
Die blauen Sternelein,
Die mir [jene]2 Freuden und Qualen
Gelächelt ins Herz hinein.

Ach, meine Liebe selber
Zerfloß wie eitel Hauch!
Du alte, einsame Thräne,
Zerfließe jetzunder auch!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Sechsundfünfzigste Auflage (56th edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1887, page 147. Note: in this edition, the poem is number 29.

Modern German would change "Thräne" to "Träne".

1 Franz: "hat"
2 Cornelius: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. What does this solitary tear mean?
Language: English 
 What does this solitary tear mean?
 - it so blurs my gaze.
 It has lingered since long ago
 behind my eye.
 
 It had several shining sisters,
 which have all flown away
 with my agonies and joys,
 flown away in night and wind.
 
 Like mist have also faded away
 the blue little stars
 through which my joys and agonies
 were smiled into my heart.
 
 Alas, my love itself
 has vanished, like a vain breath!
 You old, lonely tear,
 flow down then and be gone!

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: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust