English translations of Vier Lieder: Soparn, opus 2

by Willem Frederick Gerard Nicolai (1829 - 1896)

1. Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem Frederick Gerard Nicolai (1829 - 1896), "Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken", op. 2 no. 1, published 1872 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken,
Das wirbt so süß, das wirbt so laut,
Beim [Duft]1 der [Blumenglocken]2
Um die geliebte Braut.

Und aus dem blauen Flieder
Singt, ohne Rast und Ruh'
Millionen Liebeslieder
Die holde Braut ihm zu. --

Ich hör' ein leises Klagen,
So liebesbang, so [seelenvoll]3 --
Was mag die Stimme fragen,
Die in dem Wind verscholl?

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Confirmed with Anthologie aus den Gedichten von Adolf Böttger, Hildburghausen: Druck vom Bibliographischen Institute, New York: Herrmann J. Meyer, [1870], pages 13-14.

1 Pfitzner: "Klang"
2 Tinel: "Morgenglocken"
3 Pfitzner: "sehnsuchtsvoll"

by Adolf Böttger (1815 - 1870)
1. I hear a little bird singing enticingly
Language: English 
I hear a little bird singing enticingly,
It woos so sweetly, it woos so loudly,
By the scent of the flowers' bells
It woos the beloved bride.

And from out the blue lilac,
Without pause or rest
The lovely bride sings
Millions of love songs back to him.

I hear a quiet lamenting,
So full of the anxiety of love, so soulful,
What might the voice be asking,
The voice that died away in the wind?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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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This text was added to the website: 2013-07-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Es treibt dich fort von Ort zu Ort  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem Frederick Gerard Nicolai (1829 - 1896), "Es treibt dich fort von Ort zu Ort", op. 2 no. 3, published 18-?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Es treibt [dich]1 fort von Ort zu Ort,
Du weißt nicht mal warum;
Im Winde klingt ein sanftes Wort,
Schaust dich verwundert um.

  Die Liebe, die dahinten blieb,
Sie ruft dich sanft zurück:
"O komm zurück, ich hab dich lieb,
Du bist mein einz'ges Glück!"

  Doch weiter, weiter, sonder Rast,
Du darfst nicht stille stehn;
Was du so sehr geliebet hast,
Sollst du nicht wiedersehn.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 295.

1 Marschner, Mayer: "mich"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2.
Language: English 
It urges you forth from place to place,
You don’t even know why;
A tender word rings in the breeze,
And you look about in confusion.

The love that remained behind,
Gently calls you back:
“Oh, come back, I love you,
You are my sole happiness!’

Yet onward, onward, without rest,
You cannot remain in one place;
That which you have loved so deeply,
You may never see again.

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: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall