English translations of Sechs Gesänge für eine Singstimme und Klavier, opus posth. 86

by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

1. Es lauschte das Laub so dunkelgrün
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Es lauschte das Laub so dunkelgrün", op. posth. 86 no. 1 (1826) [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es lauschte das Laub so dunkelgrün
Dort in das Fenster hinein,
Die Sonne darin am liebsten schien,
Dort sangen die Vögelein.
Sie wähnen, es werde so ewig währen,
Sie spielen und mögen's nicht anders begehren.

Es lauscht aus dem Laub so dunkelgrün,
Es strahlen dort Augen hinaus,
Es ranken die Reben im stillen Bemüh'n,
Umgarnen das einsame Haus.
Es wähnen die Armen, das Leuchten zu fangen,
Sie streben und weben mit Sehnsucht und Bangen.

Nun rauschet das Laub so gelblich rot,
Sieht nicht mehr in's Fenster hinein,
Das Vögelgezwitscher ist still und tot,
Vorüber der Sonnenschein!
Wohl mußte das freudige Grün verblassen,
Das Fenster im Laube ist leer und verlassen.

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by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
1. The dark green leaves eavesdropped
Language: English 
The dark green leaves eavesdropped
There in the window,
The sun shone in most beautifully,
There sang the little birds.
They imagine it would last forever,
They play and would not want it any differently.

The dark green leaves eavesdrop,
The eyes shine out,
The vines twine in quiet effort,
Ensnaring the deserted house.
The arms imagine they can catch the light,
They strive and weave with longing and anxiety.

Now the yellow-red leaves rustle,
They look no more into the window,
The birds’ twittering is silent and dead,
The sunshine is past!
The joyful green had to grow pale,
The window among the leaves is empty and abandoned.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Garrett Medlock, (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: 2020-01-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 109

Translation © by Garrett Medlock
2. Morgenlied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Morgenlied", op. posth. 86 no. 2 (1826-47) [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Erwacht in neuer Stärke,
Begrüß' ich, Gott, dein Licht,
Und wend' auf deine Werke
Mein frohes Angesicht.
Wie herrlicht strahlt die Sonn' empor
Und weckt des Lebens lauten Chor!

Von Jubelliedern schallen
Schon Feld, Gebüsch und Luft,
Und aus des Waldes Hallen
Strömt frisch der Morgenduft.
Das Vöglein schüttelt ab den Tau,
Fliegt auf und singt im hellen Blau.

Schon höher schwebt die Sonne
In ihrem Siegeslauf,
Was lebt, das atmet Wonne,
Und was da schlief, wacht auf.
O Gott, in deinem Sonnenschein,
Wie herrlich ist's lebendig sein!

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2. Morning song
Language: English 
Awakened in new strength,
I greet, God, your light,
And turn my glad face 
To your works.
How splendidly shines the sun above,
And life’s loud chorus awakes!

From cheerful songs resound
Now field, shrubs, and air,
And from the wood’s halls
Streams anew morning’s scent.
The little bird shakes off the dew,
Flies away and sings in the bright blue.

Already the sun hovers high
In its course of victory,
All that lives breathes joy,
And what sleeps there awakens.
Oh God, in your sunshine
How wonderful it is to be alive!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Garrett Medlock, (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: 2020-01-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 93

Translation © by Garrett Medlock
3. Die Liebende schreibt
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Die Liebende schreibt", op. posth. 86 no. 3 (1831) [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Blick von deinen Augen in die meinen,
Ein Kuß von deinem Mund auf meinem Munde,
Wer davon hat, wie ich, gewisse Kunde,
Mag dem was anders wohl erfreulich scheinen?

Entfernt von dir, entfremdet von den Meinen,
Führ' ich stets die Gedanken in die Runde,
Und immer treffen sie auf jene Stunde,
Die einzige: da fang' ich an zu weinen.

Die Thräne trocknet wieder unversehens:
Er liebt ja, denk' ich, her in diese Stille,
Und solltest du nicht in die Ferne reichen?

Vernimm das Lispeln dieses Liebewehens;
Mein einzig Glück auf Erden ist dein Wille,
Dein freundlicher zu mir; gib mir ein Zeichen!

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Liebende schreibt", written 1807-08, 8th sonnet of Sämtliche Gedichte, first published 1815

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. The loving woman writes
Language: English 
One look from your eyes into mine,
One kiss from your lips on my lips,
Can one who has certain knowledge of these, as I,
Take pleasure in anything else?

Far from you, separated from my loved ones,
I let my thoughts roam constantly,
And always they alight upon that one
Single hour: and I begin to weep.

Suddenly my tears are dried:
He loves indeed, I reflect, here in this stillness,
Oh, should you not reach out to me in the far distance?

Hear these whispered words of love
My sole happiness on earth is your goodwill to me;
Give me a sign!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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: 14
Word count: 104

Translation © by David Gordon
4. Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich", op. posth. 86 no. 4 (1826-47), published 1851 [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Allnächtlich im Traume seh' ich dich
Und sehe dich freundlich grüßen,
Und laut aufweinend stürz' ich mich
Zu deinen süßen Füßen.

Du siehst mich an wehmütiglich
Und schüttelst das blonde Köpfchen;
Aus deinen Augen schleichen sich  
Die Perlentränentröpfchen.

Du sagst mir heimlich ein leises Wort
Und gibst mir den Strauß von Zypressen.
Ich wache auf, und der Strauß ist fort,
Und 's Wort hab' ich vergessen.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Nightly I see you in my dreaming
Language: English 
 Nightly I see you in my dreams
 And I see you greet me, friendly,
 And crying out loudly, I throw myself
 At your sweet feet.

 You look at me sorrowfully
 And shake your dear, blond head;
 From your eyes sneak forth
 The pearly teardrops.

 You say a soft word to me secretly,
 And give me a branch of the cypress;
 I awake, and the branch is gone,
 And I have forgotten the word.

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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
5. Der Mond
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Der Mond", op. posth. 86 no. 5 (1826-47) [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist wie die dunkle Nacht,
Wenn alle Wipfel rauschen;
Da steigt der Mond in voller Pracht
Aus Wolken sacht --
Und sieh, der Wald verstummt in tiefem Lauschen.

Der Mond, der lichte Mond bist du;
In deiner Liebesfülle
Wirf einen, einen Blick mir zu 
Voll Himmelsruh --
Und sieh, dies ungestüme Herz wird stille.

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by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5. My heart is like the dark night
Language: English 
My heart is like the dark night,
when all the treetops rustle;
There rises the moon in full splendour
from among clouds softly,
and behold, the forest grows silent in deep listening.

The moon, the bright moon are you:
In your abundance of love
cast a glance to me
full of heavenly peace,
and behold, this unquiet heart becomes still.

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2004-01-26
Line count: 10
Word count: 60

Translation © by Carl Johengen
6. Altdeutsches Frühlingslied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Altdeutsches Frühlingslied", op. posth. 86 no. 6 (1847) [ voice and piano ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der trübe Winter ist vorbei,
Die Schwalben wiederkehren;
Nun regt sich alles wieder neu;
Die Quellen sich vermehren.

Laub allgemach nun schleicht an Tag,
Die Blümlein nun sich melden;
Wie Schlänglein krumm gehn lächelnd um
Die Bächlein kühl in Wälden.

Wo man nur schaut, fast alle Welt
Zur Freuden sich tut rüsten;
Zum Scherzen alles ist gestellt,
Schwebt alles fast in Lüsten.

Nur ich allein, ich leide Pein,
Ohn' Ende werd ich leiden:
Seit du von mir und ich von dir,
O Liebste, mußte scheiden.

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by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635)
6. Old German Song of Springtime
Language: English 
The dismal winter is over,
Swallows are returning;
Now everything renews itself
And springs proliferate.

Little by little, leaves slip into the day,
Little flowers now appear;
Like a twisting little snake, 
The chilly stream goes laughing through the woods.

Wherever one looks, almost all the world
Is arming itself with joy;
Everything is jovial,
And almost everything is swept up in pleasures.

Only I alone, I suffer pain;
Without end will I suffer
Since you from I and I from you,
O beloved, had to part.

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: 87

Translation © by Emily Ezust