English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 31

by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932)

1. Wennn du bei mein'm Schätzel kommst  [sung text not yet checked]

Subtitle: Im Volkston

by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Wennn du bei mein'm Schätzel kommst", subtitle: "Im Volkston", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn du bei [mei'm]1 [Schätzel]2 kommst,
Sag', ich ließ sie grüßen.
Wenn sie fraget, wie mir's geht,
Sag', auf beiden Füßen.
Wenn sie fraget, ob ich krank,
Sag', ich sei gestorben
Wenn sie an zu weinen fangt,
Sag', ich käme morgen.

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1 According to Hofmeister: Henschel, Neruda: "me'm"; Meyer-Helmund: "mein'm"; Machts: "mei'n"; Reiter: "mein' "; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Machts: "Schätzerl"; further changes may exist not noted above.

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Der Mond kommt still gegangen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Der Mond kommt still gegangen", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Mond kommt still gegangen
Mit seinem [goldnen Schein]1,
Da schläft [in]2 holdem Prangen 
Die müde Erde ein.

Im Traum die Wipfel weben,
Die Quellen rauschen sacht;
Singende Engel durchschweben
Die [blaue]3 Sternennacht

Und auf den Lüften schwanken
Aus manchem treuen Sinn
Viel tausend Liebesgedanken
Über [die]4 Schläfer hin.

[Und]5 drunten im [Thale, da funkeln]6
Die Fenster von Liebchens Haus;
Ich aber [blicke]7 im Dunkeln
Still in die [Welt]8 hinaus.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 18.

Note: in Lachner's score, the first word of stanza 4 is "Da" but becomes "Und" in the repetition.

1 Bernouilly: "holden Schein"; Thuille: "Silberschein"
2 Grimm: "mit"
3 Würst: "laue"
4 Würst: "den"
5 Lachner: "Da"
6 Kinkel: "Thale funkeln", Umlauft: "Tal, da funkeln"
7 Thuille: "blick'"
8 Umlauft: "Nacht"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. The moon so peaceful rises
Language: English 
The moon so peaceful rises
with all its golden shine,
here sleeps in lovely glitter
the weary earth below.

[...
...
...
...]

And on the breezes waft down
from many faithful hearts
true loving thoughts by the thousand
upon the sleeping ones.

And down in the valley, there twinkle
the lights from my lover's house;
but I in darkness still look out -
silent - into the world.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 63

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
3. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Frühlingslied", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1887, Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg: "Zieh"
3 Gade, Grieg, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

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: 

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Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas
4. Oft sinn' ich hin und wieder  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Oft sinn' ich hin und wieder", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Oft sinn' ich hin und wieder:
Was treibt mich zu ihr hin?
Sind's ihre süßen Lieder,
[Oder ist's]1 ihr froher Sinn?

Was hält mich so gefangen
Wenn ihre Stimme schallt?
Ist's unbewußt Verlangen,
Ist's ihres Aug's Gewalt?

's ist nicht der Wuchs, der schöne,
Und nicht des Auges Strahl,
Auch nicht die süßen Töne;
's ist Alles allzumal!

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Confirmed with Ausgewählte Dichtungen von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Zweite Auflage, Berlin: Verlag der Königlichen Geheimen Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei (R.v. Decker), 1864, page 263.

1 Humperdinck, Schwartz: "Ist es"

by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)
4. Often my pondering thoughts move back and forth
Language: English 
Often my pondering thoughts move back and forth:
What drives me to her?
Is it her sweet songs,
[Or is it]1 her joyful spirit?

What holds me captive thus
When her voice sounds?
It is unconscious yearning,
Is it the power of her eyes?

It is not her stature, her lovely stature,
And not the beams of her eyes,
Also not the sweet sounds;
It is everything all at the same time!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Sharon 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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Translations of title(s):
"Oft sinn' ich hin und wieder" = "Often my pondering thoughts move back and forth "
"Was hält mich so gefangen" = "What holds me captive thus"

1 Humperdinck: "Is it"


This text was added to the website: 2022-05-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs