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English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 47

by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

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1. Minnelied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Minnelied", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie der Quell so lieblich klinget
Und die zarten Blumen küßt,
Wie der Fink im Schatten singet
Und das nahe Liebchen grüßt!

Wie die Lichter zitternd schweifen
Und das Gras sich grün erfreut,
Wie die Tannen weithin greifen
Und die Linde Blüten streut!

In der Linde süß Gedüfte,
In der Tannen Riesellaut,
In dem Spiel der Sommerlüfte
Glänzet sie als Frühlingsbraut.

Aber Waldton, Vogelsingen,
Duft der Blüten, haltet ein,
Licht, verdunkle, nie gelingen
Kann es euch, ihr gleich zu sein!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Ludwig Tieck (1773 - 1853)

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by Johann Ludwig Tieck (1773 - 1853)
1. Love song
Language: English 
How the fountain so lovely sounds
and kisses the tender flowers,
how the finch in the shade sings
and greets the nearby sweetheart!

How the lights curve trembling
and the grass rejoices in its green,
how the firs reach out far
and the lime tree strews its blooms!

In the lime tree's sweet fragrance,
in the firs loud rustling,
in the play of summer air
She appears as a spring bride.

But forest sounds, birdsong,
Fragance of blooms, cease,
light, die away, you can never
Be like unto her!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2003 by Carl Johengen, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Ludwig Tieck (1773 - 1853)
    • Go to the text page.

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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Translation © by Carl Johengen
2. Morgengruß  [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Morgengruß", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über die Berge steigt schon die Sonne,
Die Lämmerheerde läutet von fern:
Mein Liebchen, mein Lamm, meine Sonne und Wonne,
Noch einmal säh' ich dich gar zu gern!

Ich schaue hinauf mit spähender Miene,
"Leb' wohl, mein Kind, ich wandre von hier!"
Vergebens! es regt sich keine Gardine;
Sie liegt noch und schläft und träumt von mir.

Text Authorship:

  • by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 83

See other settings of this text.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Morning greetings
Language: English 
The sun is already climbing over the hills,
I hear the flock of lambs far away;
My darling, my love, my sunshine and joy,
I would like to see you one more time.

I look upward, searching,
"Farewell, my child, I travel from here!"
In vain! No curtain moves,
She is still asleep, and dreaming of me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 83
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Marty Lucas
3. Frühlingslied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Frühlingslied", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Durch den Wald, den dunkeln, geht
Holde Frühlingsmorgenstunde, 
Durch den Wald vom Himmel weht
Eine leise Liebeskunde.

Selig lauscht der grüne Baum,
Und er taucht mit allen Zweigen
In den schönen Frühlingstraum,
In den vollen Lebensreigen.

Blüht ein Blümchen irgendwo,
Wird's vom hellen Tau getränket,
Das versteckte zittert froh,
Daß der Himmel sein gedenket.

In geheimer Laubesnacht
Wird des Vogels Herz getroffen
Von der Liebe Zaubermacht,
Und er singt ein süßes Hoffen.

All' das frohe Lenzgeschick 
Nicht ein Wort des Himmels kündet,
Nur sein stummer, warmer Blick
Hat die Seligkeit entzündet;

Also in den Winterharm,
Der die Seele hielt bezwungen,
Ist dein Blick mir, still und warm,
Frühlingsmächtig eingedrungen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Frühlingsblick", appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Frühling

See other settings of this text.

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Volkslied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Volkslied", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist bestimmt in Gottes Rath,
Daß man vom Liebsten, was man hat, 
Muß scheiden;
Wiewohl doch Nichts im Lauf der Welt
Dem Herzen ach! so sauer fällt,
Als Scheiden! ja Scheiden!
 
So dir geschenkt ein Knösplein was,
So thu' es in ein Wasserglas, --
Doch wisse:
Blüht morgen dir ein Röslein auf,
Es welkt wohl schon die Nacht darauf;
Das wisse! ja wisse!
 
Und hat dir Gott ein Lieb bescheert,
Und hältst du sie recht innig werth,
Die Deine --
Es wird wohl wenig Zeit um sein, 
Da läßt sie dich so gar allein;
Dann weine! ja weine!
 
Nur mußt du mich auch recht verstehn,
Ja, recht verstehn!
Wenn Menschen auseinandergehn,
So sagen sie: auf Wiedersehn!
Ja Wiedersehn!

Text Authorship:

  • by Ernst Freiherr von Feuchtersleben (1806 - 1849), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Nach altdeutscher Weise, no. 1, first published 1836

See other settings of this text.

by Ernst Freiherr von Feuchtersleben (1806 - 1849)
4. It is certain in God's wisdom
Language: English 
It is certain in God's wisdom
that from our dearest loved one
we must part,
even if there is nothing in the world
that falls, oh! so bitterly on the heart
as such parting, yes parting.

As to you is given a small bud,
thus put it into a tumbler,
but know this, yes know it!,
a little rose that blooms tomorrow,
the following night will see it wither,
know that, yes know it.

And as God has given you a devotion
and you hold that love quite dearly,
as your own!
It will be about eight boards, then,
you soon will put her in!,
weep then, yes weep!

Now, you must also understand me properly,
yes, understand!
If people do thus part, then,
they say: we'll see each other again, 
yes, again.

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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Ernst Freiherr von Feuchtersleben (1806 - 1849), no title, appears in Gedichte, in Nach altdeutscher Weise, no. 1, first published 1836
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 23
Word count: 133

Translation © by John H. Campbell
5. Der Blumenstrauß
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Der Blumenstrauß", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie wandelt im Blumengarten
Und mustert den bunten Flor,
Und alle die Kleinen warten
Und schauen zu ihr empor.

»Und seid ihr denn Frühlingsboten,
Verkündend was stets so neu,
So werdet auch meine Boten
An ihn, der mich liebt so treu.«

So überschaut sie die Habe
Und ordnet den lieblichen Strauß,
Und reicht dem Freunde die Gabe,
Und weicht seinem Blicke aus.

Was Blumen und Farben meinen,
O deutet, o fragt das nicht,
Wenn aus den Augen der Einen
Der süßeste Frühling spricht.

Text Authorship:

  • by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)

See other settings of this text.

by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
5. The flower garland
Language: English 
She strolls in the flower-garden
and admires the colourful blossom,
and all the little blooms are there waiting
and looking upwards towards her.

“So you are spring’s messengers,
announcing what is always so new –
then be also my messengers
to the man who loves me faithfully.”

So she surveys what she has available
and arranges a delightful garland;
and she gives this gift to her man friend,
and evades his gaze.

What flowers and colours mean,
oh do not explain, do not ask –
not when out of one woman’s eyes
the sweetest springtime is speaking.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Peter Low, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2018-03-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Peter Low
6. Bei der Wiege
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Bei der Wiege", op. 47 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1839) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlummre! Schlummre und träume von kommender Zeit,
Die sich dir bald muß entfalten,
Träume, mein Kind, von Freud' und Leid,
Träume von lieben Gestalten!
Mögen auch viele noch kommen und gehen,
Müssen dir neue doch wieder erstehen,
Bleibe nur fein geduldig!

Schlummre und träume von Frühlingsgewalt,
Schau' all' das Blühen und Werden,
Horch, wie im Hain der Vogelsang schallt,
Liebe im Himmel, auf Erden!
Heut' zieht's vorüber und kann dich nicht kümmern,
Doch wird dein Frühling auch blühn und schimmern,
Bleibe nur fein geduldig! Schlummre! 

Text Authorship:

  • by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)

See other settings of this text.

by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
6. Beside the cradle
Language: English 
Sleep! Sleep and dream of the future
That must soon unfold for you;
Dream, my child, of joy and pain,
Dream of lovely forms!
May many yet come and go,
But new ones must arise for you
If you are only patient!

Sleep! Sleep and dream of spring's power,
Watch all the blossoming and becoming,
Hark, how the songs of birds resound in the grove,
Love is in heaven, [and] on Earth!
Today passes by and cannot trouble you,
But your spring will also blossom and glimmer,
If you are only patient!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2012-01-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
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