English translations of Drei Lieder , opus 36

by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932)

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1. Der Brief  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Der Brief", op. 36 (Drei Lieder ) no. 1 (1886-7), published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Einen Brief soll ich schreiben
Meinem Schatz in der Fern;
[Sie hat mich gebeten,
Sie]1 hätt's gar [zu]2 gern.

Da lauf ich zum Krämer,
Kauf Tint' und Papier
Und schneid mir ein' Feder,
Und sitz nun dahier.

Als wir noch mitsammen
Uns lustig gemacht,
[Da haben wir nimmer]3
Ans Schreiben gedacht.

[Was hilft mir nun Feder
Und Tint' und Papier!]4
Du weißt, die Gedanken 
Sind allzeit bei dir.

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1 Keller: "Er hat mich gebeten,/ Er"; Reger, Schelb: "Er hat mir geschrieben,/ er"
2 Keller: "so"
3 Reger, Schelb: "Hat sie nicht, hab ich nicht "
4 Reger, Schelb: "Was nützt mir nun Tinte/ Und Feder und Papier?"

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
1.
Language: English 
I should write a letter
To my sweetheart far away;
She asked it of me,
She would really like it.

So, I ran to the chandler
And bought ink and paper,
Und cut myself a quill pen, 
And now sit here.

When we were still together
And were happy together,
At that point, we had never
Thought about writing.

What help for me now are quill
And ink and paper?
You know that my thoughts
Are always with you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-06-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 79

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Vale carissima  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Vale carissima", op. 36 (Drei Lieder ) no. 2 (1886-7), published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Ich bin der Mönch Waltramus]1,
Dem seliges Leid geschah, 
Ich läute die Abendglocken: 
  Vale carissima! 

Es steht eine Burg am Berge,
Wo ich die Traute sah, 
Mein Herz klingt in die Glocken:
  Vale carissima!

Fern soll mir stehen Minne,
Und stand mir doch so nah!
[Es steht ein Kloster im Tale]2,
  Vale carissima!

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Confirmed with Karl Stieler, Gesammelte Werke, Zweiter Band: Gesammelte Dichtungen (hochdeutsch), Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., Stuttgart, 1908, page 74.

1 Attenhofer, Röthig: "Es war ein Mönch Waldramus"; Klein: "Es war ein Mönch Waltramus"; Kaun: "Es war der Mönch Waltramus"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 omitted by Marx; Stöhr: "Es stand ein Kloster im Tale"

by Karl Stieler (1842 - 1885)
2.
Language: English 
I am the monk Waltramus,
Who has endured rapturous suffering,
I toll the evening bells:
   Farewell, my dearest!

There is a fortress on the mountain,
Where I saw the beloved,
My heart resounds within the bells:
   Farewell, my dearest!

My love must remain afar from me,
And yet stood so near!
There is a cloister in the valley,
   Farewell, my dearest!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Translation of title "Vale" = "Farewell"


This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Altes Liebeslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Altes Liebeslied", op. 36 (Drei Lieder ) no. 3, published 1887 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Ries & Erler
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Spazieren wollt ich reiten,
Der Liebsten vor die Thür,
Sie blickt nach mir von weitem,
Und sprach mit [großen Freuden]1:
"Seht dort [meines]2 Herzens Zier,
"Wie trabt er her zu mir.
"Trab [Rößlein]3 trab,
"Trab für und für."

  Den Zaum, den ließ ich schiessen,
Und sprengte hin zu ihr,
[Und thät]4 sie freundlich grüssen,
Und sprach mit Worten [süß]5:
"Mein Schatz, [mein]6 höchste Zier,
"Was [macht ihr]7 vor der Thür?
"Trab [Rößlein]3 trab,
"Trab [her zu ihr]8."

  Vom [Rößlein]3 mein ich sprange,
Und band es an die Thür,
Thät freundlich sie umfangen,
Die Zeit ward uns nicht [lange]9,
[In Garten gingen]10 wir
[Mit liebender Begier]11;
Trab [Rößlein]3 trab,
Trab [leis herfür]8. 

  Wir sezten uns da nieder
Wohl in das grüne Gras,
Und sangen hin und wieder
[Die alten Liebeslieder,
Bis uns die Äuglein naß,
Wegen der Kläffer Haß]12.
Trab [Rößlein]3 trab,
Trab, [trab fürbaß]8.

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Confirmed with F.A. Pischon, Denkmäler der deutschen Sprache von den frühesten Zeiten bis jetzt, Zweiter Theil, Berlin: Verlag von Duncker und Humblot, 1840, page 325. Also appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn as a Volkslied.

1 Brahms, Kücken: "großer Freud' "
2 Kücken: "mein's"
3 Kücken: "Rößli"
4 Brahms, Thuille: "Ich thät"
5 Schädel: "süße"
6 Thuille: "meine"
7 Kücken: "machst hier"
8 Thuille: "für und für"
9 Brahms, Kücken: "lang"
10 Kücken, Schädel: "Im Garten gingen"
11 Kücken: "Sie schaut ins Auge mir."
12 Kücken: "Ach! wüßt' ich doch noch was?/ O, Liebchen, was ist das,/ Dein Äuglein wird ja naß!"; Brahms, Thuille: "Die alten Liebeslieder,/ Bis uns die Äuglein naß,/ Von weg'n der Kläffer Haß"

possibly by Ambrosius Metzger (1573 - 1632)
3. Old love songs
Language: English 
  I wanted to go a-riding,
To arrive before the door of my beloved,
She is looking for me from afar,
And says with great joy:
"See yonder the adornment of my heart,
How he is trotting toward me.
Trot, dear horse, trot,
Trot on and on."

  The rein, I let it free,
And shot off to her,
[And I]1 greeted her in a friendly manner,
And spoke with sweet words:
"My treasure, my greatest adornment,
What are you [doing]2 in front of the door?
Trot, dear horse, trot,
[Trot over to her]3."

  I sprang from the horse of mine,
And tied it to the door,
Joyfully I embraced her,
Time did not hang heavy on our hands,
We walked in the garden
[With loving desire]4;
Trot, dear horse, trot,
[Trot softly forth]3.

  We sat down
In the green grass,
And sang, every now and then,
[The old love songs,
Until our eyes were wet with tears,
Because of the hatred of the yappers]5
Trot, dear horse, trot,
[Trot, trot on your way]3.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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):
"Altes Liebeslied" = "Old love songs"
"Von alten Liebesliedern" = "Of old love songs"

1 Brahms, Thuille: "I"
2 Kücken: "doing here"
3 Thuille: "Trot on and on"
4 Kücken: "She gazed into my eyes"
5 Kücken: 
Ah! if I still knew what?
Oh, darling, what is this,
Your eyes are becoming wet with tears!


This text was added to the website: 2017-11-24
Line count: 32
Word count: 183

Translation © by Sharon Krebs