English translations of Sieben Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 8
by Béla Nemes Hegyi
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Das Wasser rauscht', das Wasser schwoll, Ein Fischer saß daran, Sah nach dem Angel ruhevoll, Kühl bis ans Herz hinan. Und wie er sitzt und wie er lauscht, Theilt sich die Fluth empor; Aus dem bewegten Wasser rauscht Ein feuchtes Weib hervor. [Sie sang zu ihm, sie sprach zu ihm]1: Was lockst du meine Brut Mit Menschenwitz und Menschenlist [Hinauf in]2 Todesgluth? Ach wüßtest du, wie's Fischlein ist So wohlig auf dem Grund, Du stiegst herunter wie du bist Und würdest erst gesund. Labt sich die liebe Sonne nicht, Der Mond sich nicht im Meer? Kehrt wellenathmend ihr Gesicht Nicht doppelt schöner her? Lockt dich der tiefe Himmel nicht, Das feuchtverklärte Blau? Lockt dich dein eigen Angesicht Nicht her in ew'gen Thau? Das Wasser rauscht', das Wasser schwoll, Netzt' ihm den nackten Fuß; Sein Herz wuchs ihm so sehnsuchtsvoll Wie bei der Liebsten Gruß. Sie sprach zu ihm, sie sang zu ihm; Da war's um ihn geschehn: Halb zog sie ihn, halb sank er hin, Und ward nicht mehr gesehn.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Fischer", written 1778?, first published 1779
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, pages 185-186.
Note: the Eberwein score has a likely misprint in stanza 1, line 8, word 4: "empor".
1 Vesque von Püttlingen: "Sie sprach zu ihm, sie sang zu ihm"2 Eberwein: "Herauf zu"
The water roared, the water swelled; a fisherman sat beside, gazing calmly at his fishing line, cool to his very heart. And as he sits there and as he listens, the waves split and from the turbulent water a watery woman bursts up. She sang to him, and spoke to him: "Why do you lure my children with your human wit and cunning, up here to this deadly glow? Ah, if you only knew how pleasant the tiny fish find it below the surface, you would come down, just as you are, and you would be well for the first time. Does not the dear sun refresh itself and the moon as well, in the sea? Do they not turn their faces, breathing the waves and thus becoming doubly fair? Aren't you tempted by the deep sky, the moist and transfiguring blue? Aren't you tempted by your own face shining in the eternal dew?" The water roared, the water swelled, and moistened his naked foot; and his heart filled with the longing that he felt at the greeting of his beloved. She spoke to him, and sang to him; then all was done for him; half pulled by her and half sinking himself, he went down and was never seen again.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Der Fischer", written 1778?, first published 1779
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 211
An dem [reinsten]1 Frühlingsmorgen Gieng die Schäferin und sang, Jung und schön und ohne Sorgen, Daß es durch die Felder [klang]2, So la la! le ralla. Thyrsis bot ihr für ein Mäulchen [Zwei,]3 drei Schäfchen gleich am Ort, [Schalkhaft blickte sie]4 ein Weilchen; Doch sie sang und lachte fort, So la la! le ralla. Und ein Andrer bot ihr Bänder, Und der Dritte bot sein Herz; Doch sie trieb mit Herz und Bändern So wie mit den Lämmern Scherz, Nur la la! le ralla.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Spröde"
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethes Sämmtliche Werke: Vollständige Ausgabe in zehn Bänden, Erster Band, Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta’schen Buchhandlung, 1875, pages 6-7. Note: modernized spelling would change "Gieng" to "Ging".
2 Cimarosa: "drang"
3 Cimarosa: "Da"
4 Cimarosa: "Sie besann sich nur"
On the [purest]1 of spring mornings The shepherdess walked along singing, Young and beautiful and free of care, [Singing] so that [it rang]2 through the fields, So la la! le ralla. Thyrsis offered her for a little kiss [Two,]3 three little sheep on the spot, [She looked at him roguishly]4 for a little while; But she continued to sing and laugh, So la la! le ralla. And another chap offered her ribbons, And a third one offered his heart; But she made fun of heart and ribbons As she had with the lambs, Only la la! le ralla.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Die Spröde"
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View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Die Spröde" = "The aloof [shepherdess]"
"An dem reinstem Frühlingsmorgen" = "On the purest of spring mornings"
"Die Spröde und die Bekehrte" = "The aloof and the repentant [shepherdess]"
2 Cimarosa: "the song penetrated"
3 Cimarosa: "There"
4 Cimarosa: "She only thought about it"
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-30
Line count: 15
Word count: 103
Gedenkst du noch der Stunden
. . . . . . . . . .
— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —
Ich ging im Walde So für mich hin, Und Nichts zu suchen, Das war mein Sinn. Im Schatten sah ich Ein Blümchen stehn, Wie Sterne leuchtend, Wie Äuglein schön. Ich wollt' es brechen, Da sagt' es fein: "Soll ich zum Welken Gebrochen sein?" Ich grub's mit allen Den Würzlein aus, Zum Garten trug ich's Am hübschen Haus. Und pflanzt' es wieder Am stillen Ort; Nun zweigt es immer Und blüht so fort.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Gefunden", written 1813
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I was walking in the woods Just [enjoying] being there, And seeking nothing [in particular] out, That was my state of mind. In the shade I saw A little flower standing, Shining like stars, Like beautiful little eyes. I wanted to pick it, When it said sweetly: “Shall I wither [after] Being picked?” I dug it all out [preserving] Its little roots, I carried it to the garden Next to my pretty house. And replanted it In a silent place; Now [new] sprigs appear And bloom immediately.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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 Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Gefunden", written 1813
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Translation of title "Gefunden" = "Found"This text was added to the website: 2016-04-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 87
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn, Röslein auf der Heiden, War so jung und morgenschön, Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn, Sah's mit vielen Freuden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein [roth]1, Röslein auf der Heiden. Knabe sprach: ich breche dich, Röslein auf der Heiden! Röslein sprach: ich steche dich, Daß du ewig denkst an mich, Und ich will's nicht leiden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth, Röslein auf der Heiden. Und der wilde Knabe brach 's Röslein auf der Heiden; Röslein wehrte sich und stach, Half [ihr]2 doch kein Weh und Ach, Mußt' es eben leiden. Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth, Röslein auf der Heiden.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Heidenröslein", written 1771, first published 1772
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 17.
First published in a different version by Johann Gottfried Herder in 1772 with the title "Fabelliedchen", and again in 1779 with the title "Röschen auf der Heide" (see below).
1 Lang: "schön"2 Reichardt: "ihm"
Passing lad a rose blossom spied, Blossom on the heath growing, 'Twas so fair and of youthful pride, Raced he fast to be near its side, Saw it with joy o'erflowing. Blossom, blossom, blossom red, Blossom on the heath growing. Said the lad: I shall pick thee, Blossom on the heath growing! Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee, That thou shalt ever think of me, And I'll not be allowing. Blossom, blossom, blossom red, Blossom on the heath growing. And the lusty lad did pick The blossom on the heath growing; Blossom, in defense, did prick, 'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick, Had to be allowing. Blossom, blossom, blossom red, Blossom on the heath growing.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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 Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Heidenröslein", written 1771, first published 1772
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 115
Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer [Vom Meere]1 strahlt; Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes [Flimmer]2 In Quellen mahlt. Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege Der Staub sich hebt; In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen [Stege]3 Der Wandrer bebt.4 Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen Die Welle steigt. Im [stillen]5 [Haine geh']6 ich oft [zu]7 lauschen, Wenn alles schweigt. Ich bin bei dir, du seyst auch noch so ferne, Du bist mir nah! Die [Sonne]8 sinkt, [bald]9 leuchten mir die Sterne. O wärst du da!
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Nähe des Geliebten", written 1795, first published 1795
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 65, and with Musen-Almanach für das Jahr 1796, herausgegeben von Schiller. Neustrelitz, bei dem Hofbuchhändler Michaelis, page 5.
Note: Wilhelmj's score has a typo in stanza 1, line 3: word 5 is "dich" instead of "sich".
1 Beethoven: "Von Meeren"; Unger: "Von Neuem"2 Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "Schimmer"
3 Schubert: "Wege"
4 Backer-Grøndahl adds "Ich sehe dich."
5 Lang (op. 5 only): "dunklen"
6 Schubert: "Hain, da geh"; Unger: "Hain gehe"
7 Lang (op. 5 only): "um zu"
8 Wolfrum: "Sonne, sie"
9 Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "es"
I think of you when the sunlight shimmers, beaming from the sea1; I think of you when the moon's gleam paints the streams. I see you when, on distant roads, the dust rises up; in deep night, when on the narrow bridge a traveler quivers. I hear you when there, with a muffled roar, the waves rise. In the still grove I go often to listen, when everything is silent. I am with you, even if you are so far away. You are near me! The sun sinks, and soon the stars will shine for me. O, if only you were here!
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 ArchiveFor 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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Nähe des Geliebten", written 1795, first published 1795
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translation of title "Nähe des Geliebten" = "Near the beloved"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 103
Einst ging ich meinem Mädchen nach Tief in den Wald, in den Wald hinein, Und fiel ihr um den Hals, und ach! Droht sie, ich werde schrein. Da rief ich trotzig ha! ich will Den tödten, der uns stört! Still, lispelt sie, still! Geliebter, still! Daß ja dich niemand hört.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
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