English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 57

by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

1. Altdeutsches Lied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Altdeutsches Lied", op. 57 no. 1
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist in den Wald gesungen,
Wenn ich der mein Leiden sage,
Die mein Herz mir hat bezwungen;
Sie hört nicht auf meine Klage.

Mir ist wie der Nachtigall,
Die so viel vergeblich singet,
Und ihr doch am Ende bringet
Lauter Schmerz ihr süßer Schall.

Was nützt in dem wilden Walde
Kleiner Vögelein Gesang,
Und ihr Tönen mannichfalte,
Wer sagt ihrem Singen Dank?

Stille bleibt der wilde Wald,
Und die Hirsche weiter ziehen,
Hören nicht den Ton im Fliehen,
Der so ganz umsonst verhallt.

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by Heinrich der tugendhafte Schreiber (flourished 1208-28)
1. Old German song
Language: English 
It is as if I were singing into the forest,
When I tell my sorrows 
To her who has conquered my heart;
She does not listen to my lament.

I feel like the nightingale
Who sings so much in vain,
And yet at last her sweet sound
Brings her sheer pain.

What good is in the wild forest
The song of little birds
And their manifold tones?
Who thanks them for their singing?

The wild forest remains still,
And the deer move on;
While they flee they do not hear the sound 
That fades away in vain.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Harald Krebs, (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: 2010-01-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Harald Krebs
2. Hirtenlied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Hirtenlied", op. 57 no. 2, stanzas 1-2,4-6
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Winter, schlimmer Winter,
Wie ist die Welt so klein!
Du drängst uns all' in die Täler,
In die engen Hütten hinein.

Und geh' ich auch vorüber
An meiner Liebsten Haus,
Kaum sieht sie mit dem Köpfchen
Zum kleinen Fenster heraus.

 ... 

O Sommer, schöner Sommer,
Wie wird die Welt so weit!
Je höher man steigt auf die Berge,
Je weiter sie sich verbreit't.

Und stehest du auf dem Felsen,
Traut' Liebchen! ich rufe dir zu.
Die Halle sagen es weiter,
Doch Niemand hört es als du.

Und halt' ich dich in den Armen
Auf freien Bergeshöh'n:
Wir seh'n in die weiten Lande,
Und werden doch nicht geseh'n.

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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6 of the original text.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. The shepherd's winter song
Language: English 
O winter, wicked winter,
Your world is oh so small!
You crowd us into the valleys,
In tiny cabins all.

And even if I wander past
My sweetheart's house, by chance,
She hardly casts, with tiny head,
Through tiny window a glance.

 ... 

O summer, lovely summer,
How wide becomes the world!
The higher one climbs up the mountains,
The farther it lies unfurled.

And if you stand on rocky cliffs,
Dear sweetheart!  My call will sound through.
The echoes will gladly repeat it,
Though no one will hear it but you.

And I'll take you in my arms then
On mountain top so free:
We'll gaze in the broadening landscape,
But us not a soul will see.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by Andrew Hudson, (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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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2,4-6 of the original text.


This text was added to the website: 2013-01-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 141

Translation © by Andrew Hudson
3. Suleika
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Suleika", op. 57 no. 3 (1834)
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was bedeutet die Bewegung?
Bringt der Ost mir frohe Kunde?
Seiner Schwingen frische Regung
Kühlt des Herzens tiefe Wunde.

Kosend spielt er mit dem Staube,
Jagt ihn auf in leichten Wölkchen,
Treibt zur sichern Rebenlaube
Der Insecten frohes Völkchen.

Lindert sanft der Sonne Glühen,
Kühlt auch mir die heißen Wangen,
Küßt die Reben noch im Fliehen,
Die auf Feld und Hügel prangen.

Und mir bringt sein leises Flüstern
Von dem Freunde tausend Grüße;
Eh noch diese Hügel düstern
Grüßen mich wohl tausend Küsse.

Und so kannst du weiter ziehen!
Diene Freunden und Betrübten.
Dort wo hohe Mauern glühen,
Find' ich bald den Vielgeliebten.

Ach, die wahre Herzenskunde,
Liebeshauch, erfrischtes Leben
Wird mir nur aus seinem Munde,
Kann mir nur sein Athem geben.

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Note: Marianne von Willemer's poem Ostwind was published anonymously with the title Suleika as part of Goethe's West-östlicher Divan, Buch Suleika - Suleika Nameh, with a few textual revisions by Goethe.

Note for stanza 6, line 4, word 5: modernized, the word "Athem" would be "Atem", but since this is an anagram of "Hatem", the beloved about whom Suleika is singing, it should be left as it is.

sometimes misattributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) and by Marianne von Willemer (1784 - 1860)
3. Suleika
Language: English 
What does the motion mean?
Does the East wind bring glad tidings?
The refreshing movement of its wings
Chills the heart's deep wound.

It plays gently with the dust,
Chasing it into light clouds.
And drives the happy insect people
to the security of the vine-leaves.

It softly tempers the sun's incandescence,
and chills my hot cheeks,
As it flees it kisses the vines
which are prominent on the fields and hills

And its soft whispering brings me
A thousand greetings from my friend
Before these hills dim,
I will be greeted by a thousand kisses.

So as you go on your way
And serve friends and the saddened.
There where high walls glow,
I shall soon find my dearly beloved.

Oh, the true message of his heart,
Loves-breath, refreshing life
Comes only from his mouth,
Can be given to me only by his breath.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Richard Morris, (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: 24
Word count: 145

Translation © by Richard Morris
4. O Jugend, o schöne Rosenzeit
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "O Jugend, o schöne Rosenzeit", op. 57 no. 4
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Von allen schönen Kindern auf der Welt
Mir eines doch am meisten wohlgefällt;
Es hat ein rot Mündlein und dunkelbraunes Haar;
Wohl will ich es lieben auch ganz und gar.

Die Grübchen in den Wangen, 
Das Grübchen in dem Kinn,
Drin war mich gleich gefangen 
Mein ganzer leichter Sinn,

Und in die blauen Augen,
Seh' ich da recht hinein,
Da möcht' ich mein Lebtag
Gefangen drin sein!

O Jugend, o schöne Rosenzeit!
Die Wege, die Stege sind mit Blumen bestreut;
Der Himmel steht offen, man schaut die Engelein.
O könnt' ich, Herzliebsten, stets bei dir sein!

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
4. O youth, o lovely time of roses
Language: English 
 Of all the lovely youths in the world
 there is one that pleases me the most;
 he has a red mouth and dark brown hair;
 well will I love him forever and more.
 
 The dimples in his cheeks,
 the dimple in his chin,
 there was I held captive,
 with my entire light-hearted mind,
 
 and in those blue eyes
 I looked well;
 my entire life's days I would
 spend captivated there!
 
 O youth, o lovely time of roses!
 The paths and bridges are strewn with flowers;
 the sky stands open and one can see angels.
 Would that I could remain with you, darling of my heart!

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: 16
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Venetianisches Gondellied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Venetianisches Gondellied", op. 57 no. 5 (1842)
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn durch die Piazetta
Die Abendluft weht,
Dann weißt du, Ninetta,
Wer wartend hier steht.
Du weißt, wer trotz Schleier
Und Maske dich kennt,
Du weisst, wie die Sehnsucht 
Im Herzen mir brennt.

Ein Schifferkleid trag' ich
Zur selbigen Zeit,
Und zitternd dir sag' ich:
„Das Boot ist bereit!
O, komm’! jetzt, wo Lune’n
Noch Wolken umziehn,
Laß durch die Lagunen,
Geliebte uns fliehn!“

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Confirmed with Ferdinand Freiligrath's sämmtliche Werke, Dritter Band, New-York: Verlag von Friedrich Gerhard, 1858, page 326.

by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
5. When through the piazzetta
Language: English 
When through the piazzetta 
blows the cool night air
Then, darling Ninetta, 
I'll come to you there.

Beneath your mask, hiding, 
I'll know you from afar
(2) As love knows, tho' clouding 
its own evening star.

I'll masquerade for you 
as a fair Gondolier,
And whisper, trembling --  
"Our boat, love, is near!"

Now come, under cover 
of the clouds by the moon ...
Now come, fly with me, 
o'er the silent Lagoon.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Shula Keller, (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: 2009-08-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 71

Translation © by Shula Keller
6. Wanderlied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Wanderlied", op. 57 no. 6
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laue Luft kommt blau geflossen,
Frühling, Frühling soll es sein!
Waldwärts Hörnerklang geschossen,
Mut'ger Augen lichter Schein;
Und das Wirren bunt und bunter
Wird ein magisch wilder Fluß,
In die schöne Welt hinunter
Lockt dich dieses Stromes Gruß.

Und ich mag mich nicht bewahren!
Weit von Euch treibt mich der Wind;
Auf dem Strome will ich fahren,
Von dem Glanze selig blind!
Tausend Stimmen lockend schlagen;
Hoch Aurora flammend weht;
Fahre zu! ich mag nicht fragen,
Wo die Fahrt zu Ende geht.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
6.
Language: English 
Balmy airs approach, blue and flowing,
Spring, spring it soon shall be!
Toward the woods horn sounds are aimed,
Proudly the lights of the eyes shimmer,
And that confusion, festive and colorful,
Becomes a magic wild river
Into the pretty world below
The streams' greeting beckons you.

And I desire not my safety!
The wind drives me far from you,
I want to go on the stream,
Blessedly blinded by the radiance.
A thousand voices strongly beckoning,
Highly Aurora's flames sway:
Ever onward, I dare not ask
Where the journey will come to an end.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Rachel O'Connell, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Rachel O'Connell.  Contact: rachelloconnell (AT) gmail (DOT) com

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This text was added to the website: 2006-05-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 95

Translation © by Rachel O'Connell