English translations of Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter, opus 31

by Max Reger (1873 - 1916)

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1. Allein
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Allein", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 1 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie zerriss'ner Saiten Klingen
Tönt mein Lachen mir in's Ohr,
Und die heißen Thränen dringen
Bitterlich zum Aug' empor.

Ob ich lache oder weine,
Ach, es ist ja Alles eins:
Leid und Lust trag' ich alleine,
Meine Thränen kümmern keins.

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Confirmed with Anna Ritter, Gedichte, Neunte Auflage, Stuttgart und Berlin: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1900, page 50.


by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
1. Alone
Language: English 
Like the sounding of torn strings,
My laughter sounds in my ears,
And torrid tears rise
Bitterly to my eyes.

Whether I laugh or whether I weep,
Ah, it is all the same:
I bear sorrow and joy alone,
No one cares about my tears.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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: 2023-10-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Ich glaub', lieber Schatz
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Ich glaub', lieber Schatz", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 2 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Unter den blühenden Linden --
Weißt du's noch?
Wir konnten das Ende nicht finden,
Erst küßtest du mich,
Und dann küßte ich dich --
Ich glaub', lieber Schatz, es war Sünde,
Aber süß, aber süß war es doch!

Der Vater rief durch den Garten --
Weißt du's noch?
Wir schwiegen ... der Vater kann warten!
Erst küßtest du mich,
Und dann küßte ich dich:
Ich glaub', lieber Schatz, es war Sünde,
Aber süß, aber süß war es doch.

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by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
2. I believe, dear treasure
Language: English 
Under the lime blossom --
do you know yet?
We could find no end to it.
First you kissed me
and then I kissed you.
I believe, dear treasure, it was a sin
but it was sweet. It certainly was sweet.

Father called through the garden -- 
do you know yet?
We kept quiet. Father can wait.
First you kissed me
and then I kissed you.
I believe, dear treasure, it was a sin
but it was sweet. It certainly was sweet.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Malcolm Wren, (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: 2005-04-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 80

Translation © by Malcolm Wren
3. Unbegehrt
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Unbegehrt", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 3 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es stand eine Rose im tief tiefen Grund,
Von Liebe und Sehnsucht durchglühet,
Kam Keiner, der ihre Schönheit begehrt,
Ist einsam und traurig verblühet.

Ich weiß eine Seele, die glühte so heiß,
Die Liebe, das Glück zu empfangen;
Kam Keiner, der ihre Blüthe begehrt,
Ist einsam zu Grunde gegangen.

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by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
3. Unwanted
Language: English 
A rose stood in the deep, deep vale,
Suffused with the glow of love and yearning,
No one came who desired her beauty,
Solitary and sad she faded away.

I know a soul that glowed so fervently
To [embrace]1 love, happiness;
No one came who desired its blooming,
It perished in solitude.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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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Translations of title(s):
"Märchen" = "Fairy-tale"
"Unbegehrt" = "Unwanted"

1 Reger: "receive"


This text was added to the website: 2019-11-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 53

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Und hab' so grosse Sehnsucht doch
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Und hab' so grosse Sehnsucht doch", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 4 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab' kein' Mutter, die mich hegt,
Die Mutter schläft im Grund.
Ich hab' kein' Buhlen, der mich küßt,
Auf meinen rothen Mund.

Und hab' so große Sehnsucht doch,
Und hab' so jungen Sinn --
Was hab' ich dir, o Gott, gethan,
Daß ich so einsam bin?

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by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
4. And yet I have such great yearning
Language: English 
I have no mother who looks after me,
My mother sleeps in the valley.
I have no lover who kisses me
Upon my red lips.

And yet I have such great yearning,
And have such a young spirit --
What, oh God, have I done to You
That I am so lonely?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Translations of title(s):
"Ich hab' kein' Mutter" = "I have no mother"
"Klage" = "Lament"
"Und hab' so große Sehnsucht doch" = "And yet I have such great yearning"
"Und hab' so grosse Sehnsucht doch" = "And yet I have such great yearning"



This text was added to the website: 2021-06-27
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Mein Traum
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Mein Traum", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 5 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Liegt nun so still die weite Welt,
Die Nacht geht schwebend durch das Feld,
Der Mond lugt durch die Bäume.
Da steigts herauf aus tiefem Grund,
Da flüsterts rings mit süßem Mund,
Die Träume sind's, die Träume.

Sie tragen Mohn im goldnen Haar
Und singend dreht sich Paar um Paar
In wundersamen Reigen --
Nur einer steht so ernst bei Seit',
In seinen Augen wohnt das Leid,
Auf seiner Stirn das Schweigen.

O Traum, der meine Nächte füllt,
Der meinen Tag in Thränen hüllt,
Willkommen doch, willkommen!
Du bist's allein, der Treue hält,
Da alles Andre mir die Welt
Genommen hat: Willkommen,
willkommen, mein schöner Traum!.

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by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
5. My dream
Language: English 
The wide world is now lying so still,
The night wafts through the field,
The moon peers through the trees.
Then something rises from the deep vale,
Then all around something whispers with sweet lips,
It is the dreams, the dreams.

They're wearing poppies in their golden hair
And, singing, they twirl pair by pair
In a wondrous roundelay –
Only one stands so solemnly aside,
Sorrow dwells in his eyes,
Upon his brow dwells silence.

Oh dream that fills my nights,
The shrouds my days in tears,
Welcome, nevertheless, welcome!
You are the only one who keeps faith,
Since the world has [taken, taken]1
Everything else from [me.]2

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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1 Reger: "taken"
2 Reger: "me: Welcome, welcome, my beautiful dream!"


This text was added to the website: 2023-10-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 111

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Schlimme Geschichte
 (Sung text)
by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "Schlimme Geschichte", op. 31 (Sechs Gedichte von Anna Ritter) no. 6 (1898) [ medium voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mußt 's auch grad so dunkel sein
An der Weißdornhecke!
War nicht Mond- nicht Sonnenschein,
Stand der Liebste ganz allein
Wartend an der Ecke.

Rothe Rosen in der Hand,
Kam ich still gegangen,
Griff mich ein's am Schürzenband --
Eh' ich noch ein Wörtchen fand,
War ich schon gefangen.

Knurrend lag ein wildes Thier
Auf den Treppenstufen,
Schloß der Liebste schnell die Thür,
Schob auch noch den Riegel für --
Sollt ich etwa rufen?

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by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
6. Dire story
Language: English 
Did it have to be so dark right then
By the white hawthorn hedge!
There was no moonlight, no [starlight]1,
My beloved stood all alone
Waiting at the corner.

With red roses in my hand
I came quietly a-walking,
Something seized my apron strings --
Before I could say a word
I was already captured.

Growling, a wild animal lay
Upon the steps,
My beloved quickly locked the door,
Slid the bolt as well --
Should I have called out?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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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1 Reger: "sunshine"


This text was added to the website: 2018-03-30
Line count: 15
Word count: 80

Translation © by Sharon Krebs