English translations of Drei Gesänge, opus 9

by Hermann Theobald Petschke (1806 - 1888)

1. Am Meer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Theobald Petschke (1806 - 1888), "Am Meer", op. 9 (Drei Gesänge) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Meer erglänzte weit hinaus,
Im letzten Abendscheine;
Wir saßen am einsamen Fischerhaus,
Wir saßen stumm und alleine.

Der Nebel stieg, das Wasser schwoll,
Die Möve flog hin und wieder;
Aus deinen Augen, liebevoll,
Fielen die Thränen nieder.

Ich sah sie fallen auf deine Hand,
Und bin auf's Knie gesunken;
Ich hab' von deiner weißen Hand
Die Thränen fortgetrunken.

Seit jener Stunde verzehrt sich mein Leib,
Die Seele stirbt vor Sehnen; -
Mich hat das unglückseel'ge Weib
Vergiftet mit ihren Thränen.

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 193; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 19.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. The sea sparkled out in the distance
Language: English 
 The sea sparkled out in the distance
 By the light of evening's last glow;
 We sat near the solitary fisherman's house,
 We sat mute and alone.

 The fog gathered, the water swelled,
 A seagull flew back and forth;
 From your eyes full of love
 Tears fell down.

 I saw them fall on your hand
 And sank to one knee;
 From out of your white hand
 I drank the tears.

 Since that hour my body consumes itself,
 My soul is dying of longing;
 This wretched woman
 Has poisoned me with her tears.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Theobald Petschke (1806 - 1888), "Frühlingslied", op. 9 (Drei Gesänge) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg: "Zieh"
3 Gade, Grieg, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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: 

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas