English translations of Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung, opus 4

by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886)

1. Er ist's  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Er ist's", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 1, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Frühling]1 läßt sein blaues Band
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte;
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land.
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen.
-- Horch, [von fern ein leiser]2 Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab' ich vernommen!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 42.

1 Eitner: "Der Frühling"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Louis Ferdinand: "von fern her leiser"; Schumann: "ein"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
1.
Language: English 
Spring lets its blue ribbon
flutter again in the breeze;
a sweet, familiar scent
sweeps with promise through the land.
Violets are already dreaming,
and will soon arrive.
Hark! In the distance - a soft harp tone!
Spring, yes it is you!
It is you that I have heard!

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: 9
Word count: 48

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Ungeduld  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Ungeduld", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 2, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich schnitt' es gern in alle Rinden ein,
Ich grüb' es gern in jeden Kieselstein,
Ich möcht' es sä'n auf jedes frische Beet
Mit Kressensamen, der es schnell verräth,
Auf jeden weißen Zettel möcht' ich's schreiben:
Dein ist mein Herz, und soll es ewig bleiben.

Ich möcht' mir ziehen einen jungen Staar,
Bis daß er spräch' die Worte rein und klar,
Bis er sie spräch' mit meines Mundes Klang,
Mit meines Herzens vollem, [heißem]1 Drang;
Dann säng' er hell durch ihre Fensterscheiben:
Dein ist mein Herz, und soll es ewig bleiben.

Den Morgenwinden möcht' ich's hauchen ein,
Ich möcht' es säuseln durch den regen Hain;
O, leuchtet' es aus jedem Blumenstern!
Trüg' es der Duft zu ihr von nah' und fern!
Ihr Wogen, könnt ihr nichts als Räder treiben?
Dein ist mein Herz, und soll es ewig bleiben.

Ich meint', es müßt' in meinen Augen stehn,
Auf meinen Wangen müßt' man's brennen sehn,
Zu lesen wär's auf meinem stummen Mund,
Ein jeder Athemzug gäb's laut ihr kund;
Und sie merkt nichts von all' dem bangen Treiben:
Dein ist mein Herz, und soll es ewig bleiben.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte aus den hinterlassenen Papieren eines reisenden Waldhornisten. Herausgegeben von Wilhelm Müller. Erstes Bändchen. Zweite Auflage. Deßau 1826. Bei Christian Georg Ackermann, pages 19-20; and with Sieben und siebzig Gedichte aus den hinterlassenen Papieren eines reisenden Waldhornisten. Herausgegeben von Wilhelm Müller. Dessau, 1821. Bei Christian Georg Ackermann, pages 20-21.

Published also in Frauentaschenbuch für das Jahr 1821 von de la Motte Fouqué. Nürnberg bei Joh. Leonh. Schrag, pages 401-402.

1 Müller (1821 edition), and Schubert: "heißen"

See also this text by G. T. that either quotes or plagiarizes the first stanza.


by Wilhelm Müller (1794 - 1827)
2. Impatience
Language: English 
I would carve it fondly in the bark of trees,
I would chisel it eagerly into each pebble,
I would like to sow it upon each fresh flower-bed
With water-cress seeds, which it would quickly disclose;
Upon each white piece of paper would I write:
Yours is my heart and so shall it remain forever.

I would like to raise a young starling,
Until he speaks to me in words pure and clear,
Until he speaks to me with my mouth's sound,
With my heart's full, warm urge;
Then he would sing brightly through her windowpanes:
Yours is my heart and so shall it remain forever!

I would like to breath it into the morning breezes,
I would like to whisper it through the active grove;
Oh, if only it would shine from each flower-star!
Would it only carry the scent to her from near and far!
You waves, could you nothing but wheels drive?
Yours is my heart, and so shall it remain forever.

I thought, it must be visible in my eyes,
On my cheeks it must be seen that it burns;
It must be readable on my mute lips,
Every breath would make it loudly known to her,
And yet she notices nothing of all my yearning feelings.
Yours is my heart, and so shall it remain forever.

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: 24
Word count: 221

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Rath einer Alten  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Rath einer Alten", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 3, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bin jung gewesen, 
Kann auch [mit reden]1,
Und alt geworden, 
Drum gilt mein Wort.

Schön reife Beeren 
Am Bäumchen hangen:
Nachbar, da hilft kein 
Zaun um den Garten;
Lustige Vögel 
Wissen den Weg.

Aber, mein Dirnchen,
Du laß dir rathen:
Halte dein Schätzchen
Wohl in der Liebe,
Wohl in Respekt!
Mit den zwei Fädlein
In Eins gedrehet,
Ziehst du am kleinen 
Finger ihn nach.

Aufrichtig Herze,
Doch schweigen können,
Früh mit der Sonne
Muthig zur Arbeit,
Gesunde Glieder,
Saubere Linnen,
Das machet Mädchen
Und Weibchen werth.

Bin jung gewesen,
Kann auch mit reden,
Und alt geworden, 
Drum gilt mein Wort.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 modernizes to "mitreden"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3. The advice of an old woman
Language: English 
I was young once, 
and can also put in a word,
and now I've become old, 
so my words are important.

Fair ripe berries 
hang from the tree:
neighbors, it does not help 
to put a fence around the garden,
for merry birds 
will know the way.

Yet, my young lady, 
take my advice:
hold your sweetheart 
well in love,
well in respect!
With these two little threads 
spun into one,
you will lead him 
by one little finger.

Sincere of heart, 
yet able to keep quiet,
awake with the sun 
and merry at work,
with healthy limbs 
and clean linen -
this makes a maiden 
and a wife of worth.

I was young once, 
and can also put in a word,
and now I've become old, 
so my words are important.

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: 31
Word count: 131

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Frühzeitiger Frühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Frühzeitiger Frühling", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 4, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tage der Wonne
Kommt ihr so bald?
Schenkt mir die Sonne,
Hügel und Wald?
 
Reichlicher fließen
Bächlein zumal.
Sind es die Wiesen
Ist es das Thal?
 
[Blauliche]1 Frische!
Himmel und Höh!
Goldene Fische
Wimmeln im See.
 
Buntes Gefieder
Rauschet im Hain;
Himmlische Lieder
Schallen darein.
 
Unter des Grünen
Blühender Kraft,
Naschen die Bienen
Summend am Saft.
 
Leise Bewegung
Bebt in der Luft,
Reizende Regung,
Schläfernder Duft.
 
Mächtiger rühret
Bald sich ein Hauch,
Doch er verlieret
Gleich sich im Strauch.
 
Aber zum Busen
Kehrt er zurück.
Helfet, ihr Musen,
Tragen das Glück!
 
Saget seit gestern
Wie mir geschah?
Liebliche Schwestern,
Liebchen ist da!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, pages 90-91, and with Taschenbuch auf das Jahr 1804, Herausgegeben von Wieland und Goethe, Tübingen, in der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, pages 107-109.

1 Hauptmann: "Bläuliche"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. Early spring
Language: English 
Days of joy,
Have you come so soon?
To give me the sun,
Hill and Forest?

Amply flow
the brooklets again,
Are those meadows?
Is this a valley?

Blue freshness!
Heaven and heights!
Golden fishes
Teeming in the sea.

Colorful plumage
Rustles in the grove,
Heavenly songs
Resound therein!

Under the greenery's
Blooming, thriving effort
The little bees dine,
Humming, on nectar. 

Gentle movements
shake in the fresh air,
the lovely stirring
Of sleepy fragrance.

Powerfully stirs
a breath of air,
Yet it loses
itself in a bush.

But to the bosom
It turns back,
Help [me], o Muses,
To bear [this] Happiness!

Tell me how, since yesterday,
it happened to me,
lovely sisters -
My sweetheart is there!

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: 36
Word count: 118

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Frühlingsglaube  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Frühlingsglaube", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 5, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die [linden]1 Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie [säuseln und weben]2 Tag und Nacht,
Sie [schaffen]3 an allen Enden.
O [frischer]4 Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun armes Herze, sey nicht bang!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]5 wenden.

Die Welt wird schöner [mit]5 jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch [werden]6 mag,
Das Blühen [will]7 nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, [tiefste]8 Thal.
Nun armes [Herz]9, vergiß [der]10 Qual!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]11 wenden.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Deutscher Dichterwald. von Justinus Kerner, Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouqué, Ludwig Uhland und Andern. Tübingen in der J. F. Heerbrandt'schen Buchhandlung. 1813, page 5; and with Gedichte von Ludwig Uhland. Stuttgart und Tübingen in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 54.

Note: some editions have a typo in stanza 1, line 2: word 4 is "wehen". Lachner's score also has this typo.

1 Klein: "lauen"
2 Kittl: "säuseln, weben"
3 Hanslick: "schaff'n"
4 Kittl, Unger: "süßer"
5 Kittl, Hanslick: "Alles"
6 Goetz: "kommen"
7 Goetz: "es will"
8 Kittl: "stillste"
9 Goetz: "Herze"
10 Kittl: "die"
11 Hanslick: "Alles"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
5.
Language: English 
Balmy breezes are awakened,
They whisper and move day and night,
And everywhere creative.
O fresh scent, o new sound!
Now, poor heart, don't be afraid.
Now all, all must change.

With each day the world grows fairer,
One cannot know what is still to come,
The flowering refuses to cease.
Even the deepest, most distant valley is in flower.
Now, poor heart, forget your torment.
Now all, all must change.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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

Translation of title "Frühlingsglaube" = "Spring faith"


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

Translation © by David Gordon
6. Das verlassene Mägdlein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Otto Scherzer (1821 - 1886), "Das verlassene Mägdlein", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für Tenor (oder Sopran) mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 6, published 1887 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Leipzig, Grunow
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Früh, [wann]1 die Hähne kräh'n,
[Eh']2 die Sternlein [verschwinden]3,
Muß ich am [Herde stehn]4,
Muß Feuer zünden.

Schön ist der [Flammen]5 Schein,
[Es]6 springen die Funken.
Ich schaue so [drein]7,
In Leid versunken.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Treuloser Knabe,
Daß ich die Nacht von dir
Geträumet habe.

Träne auf Träne dann
Stürzet hernieder;
So kommt der Tag heran -
O ging' er wieder!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, pages 61-62.

1 Bock, Feyhl, Zenger: "wenn"; Senger: "eh' " (further changes may exist not noted above).
2 Zenger: "Wenn"
3 Schumann, Pfitzner (SJ5), Wolf: "schwinden"
4 van Eijken, Schumann: "Heerde steh'n"
5 Schumann, Wetzel: "Flamme"
6 Reinecke: "Hell"
7 Molitor, Reinecke, Schumann, Pfitzner (SJ5), Wolf, Zenger: "darein"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
6.
Language: English 
Early, when the cock crows,
Before the stars disappear,
I must stand at the hearth;
I must light the fire.

Beautiful is the blaze of the flames;
[The sparks fly]1.
I gaze into the fire,
Sunk in grief.

Suddenly, it comes to me,
Unfaithful boy,
That last night
I dreamed of you.

Tears upon tears then 
Pour down;
So the day comes -
O would it were gone again!

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

View original text (without footnotes)

Translated titles:
"Das verlassene Mägdlein" = "The abandoned maiden"
"Die Verlassene" = "The abandoned one"
1 Reinecke: "Bright fly the sparks"


This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust