English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 21

by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890)

1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 21 (Drei Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

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  • 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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Wehmut  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Wehmut", op. 21 (Drei Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich kann wohl manchmal singen,
Als ob ich fröhlich sei,
Doch heimlich Tränen dringen,
Da wird das Herz mir frei.

[Es]1 lassen Nachtigallen,
Spielt draußen Frühlingsluft,
Der Sehnsucht Lied erschallen
Aus ihres [Kerkers]2 Gruft.

[Da]3 lauschen alle Herzen,
Und alles ist erfreut,
Doch keiner [fühlt]3 die Schmerzen,
Im Lied das tiefe Leid.

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1 Blodek, Hensel, Jensen, Schoeck, Széchényi: "So"
2 Blodek, Jensen, Schoeck, Széchényi: "Käfigs"
3 Barth, Hensel: "Es"
4 Hensel: "ahnt"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Melancholy
Language: English 
Sometimes I can sing
as if I were happy,
but secretly tears well up
and free my heart.

The nightingales, 
when spring breezes play, let
their songs of yearning resound
from the depths of their dungeons.

Then all hearts listen
and everyone rejoices;
yet no one truly feels the anguish
of the song's deep sorrow.

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.


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Translation of title "Wehmut" = "Melancholy"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 55

Translation © by Emily Ezust