English translations of Vier Lieder von Heine, opus 19

by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890)

1. Ja, du bist elend und ich grolle nicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Ja, du bist elend und ich grolle nicht", op. 19 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ja, du bist elend, und ich grolle nicht;
Mein Lieb, wir sollen beide elend sein!
Bis uns der Tod das kranke Herze bricht,
Mein Lieb, wir sollen beide elend sein!

Wohl seh ich Spott, der deinen Mund umschwebt,
Und seh dein Auge blitzen trotziglich,
Und seh den Stolz, der deinen Busen hebt,
Und elend bist du doch, elend wie ich.

Unsichtbar zuckt auch Schmerz um deinen Mund,
Verborgne Träne trübt des Auges Schein,
Der stolze Busen hegt geheime Wund,
Mein Lieb, wir sollen beide elend sein!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 126.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Das alte Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Das alte Lied", op. 19 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein [Haupt]1 war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein [schöner]2 Page,
blond war sein [Haupt]3, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die [seid'ne]4 Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von H. Heine, Zweite Auflage, Hamburg, bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 28.

1 Diepenbrock: "Haar"
2 Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Zemlinsky: "junger"
3 Wolfrum: "Haar"
4 Goldschmidt: "seidene"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Warum sind denn die Rosen so blaß", op. 19 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum sind [denn]1 die Rosen so blaß?
O sprich mein Lieb warum?
Warum sind denn im grünen Gras
Die blauen Veilchen so stumm?

Warum singt denn mit so kläglichem Laut,
Die Lerche in der Luft?
Warum steigt denn aus dem Balsamkraut
Verwelkter Blütenduft?

Warum scheint denn die Sonn' auf die Au,
So kalt und verdrießlich herab?
Warum ist denn die Erde so grau,
Und öde wie ein Grab?

Warum bin ich selbst so krank und so trüb?
Mein liebes Liebchen sprich
O sprich mein herzallerliebstes Lieb,
Warum verließest du mich?

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 129.

1 Zenger: "doch"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Why are the roses so pale?
Language: English 
 Why are the roses so pale?
 o speak, my love, why?
 Why in the green grass
 are the blue violets so silent?
 
 Why with such a lamenting voice
 does the lark sing in the sky?
 Why from the balsam weed does there rise
 the scent of wilting blossoms?
 
 Why does the sun shine down on the meadow,
 so coldly and morosely?
 Why is the earth so gray
 and desolate like a grave?
 
 Why am I myself so ill and dull?
 My lovely darling speak,
 O speak, my heart's most beloved love,
 why have you abandoned me?

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Am Kreuzweg wird begraben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Am Kreuzweg wird begraben", op. 19 (Vier Lieder von Heine) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Kreuzweg wird begraben
Wer selber sich brachte um;
[Dort]1 wächst eine blaue Blume,
Die [Armesünderblum']2.

Am Kreuzweg [stand]3 ich und seufzte;
Die Nacht war kalt und stumm.
Im Mondschein bewegte sich langsam
Die [Armesünderblum']2.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 166.

1 Griffes: "Da"
2 Cahn-Speyer: "Armensünderblum' "
3 White: "sass"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4.
Language: English 
At the crossroads he was buried,
the one who took his own life.
A blue flower grows there,
the Woeful-sinner's-bloom.
 
At the crossroads I stood sighing;
the night was cold and still.
The Woeful-sinner's-bloom
slowly stirred in the moonlight.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2012-02-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin