English translations of Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier, opus 107

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

1. Herzeleid
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Herzeleid", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 1 (1851), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Weiden lassen matt die Zweige hangen,
Und traurig ziehn die Wasser hin:
Sie schaute starr hinab mit bleichen Wangen,
Die unglückselge Träumerin.

Und ihr entfiel ein Strauss von Immortellen,
Er war so schwer von Tränen ja,
Und leise warnend lispelten die Wellen:
Ophelia, Ophelia!

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by Titus Ullrich (1813 - 1891)
1. Heartbreak
Language: English 
The willow branches hang weakly,
and the water mournfully flows in:
she gazed fixedly down with pale cheeks,
the unlucky dreamer.

And from her hands dropped a bouquet of immortelles -
it was so heavy with tears -
and gently the waves whispered a warning:
"Ophelia, Ophelia!"

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Die Fensterscheibe
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Fensterscheibe", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 2 (1851), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Fenster klär' ich zum Feiertag,
Daß sich die Sonn' drin spiegeln mag,
Und klär' und denke gar mancherlei.
Da geht er stolz vorbei!

So sehr muss ich da erschrocken sein,
Daß ich gleich brach in die Scheiben hinein,
Und gleich auch kam das Blut gerannt
Rot über meine Hand.

Und mag sie auch bluten, meine Hand,
Und mag mich auch schmerzen der böse Brand,
Hast einen Blick doch herauf geschickt,
Als laut das Glas geknickt.

Und in die Augen dir hab' ich gesehn;
Ach Gott, wie lang ist es nicht geschehn!
Hast mich ja nicht einmal angeblickt,
Als leis mein Herz geknickt!

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by Titus Ullrich (1813 - 1891)
2. The window pane
Language: English 
I was washing the windows before the spring fair
So the sun'd see its reflection there.
I was washing and thinking of this and of that,
When who should go by - quite the aristocrat!

So surprised by what had just come to pass,
I went and broke that darn pane of glass;
In no time at all there was blood everywhere,
All over my hands, but I didn't care.

I didn't mind losing a bit of blood,
Or the pain that came from that nasty cut;
You gave a look up to where I was stood
When you heard the glass break - my, that felt good!

And I looked down, right into your eyes;
My God, how long since I last won that prize?
You never even gave me a glance
The time you broke my heart and took your chance.....

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Uri Liebrecht, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Uri Liebrecht.  Contact: liebrecht (AT) mypostoffice (DOT) co (DOT) uk

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This text was added to the website: 2009-05-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 141

Translation © by Uri Liebrecht
3. Der Gärtner
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Gärtner", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 3 (1851), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf ihrem Leibrößlein
So weiß wie der Schnee,
Die schönste Prinzessin
Reit't durch die Allee.

Der Weg, den das Rößlein
Hintanzet so hold,
Der Sand, den ich streute,
Er blinket wie Gold!

Du rosenfarbs Hütlein
Wohl auf und wohl ab,
O wirf eine Feder,
Verstohlen herab!

Und willst du dagegen
Eine Blüte von mir,
Nimm tausend für eine,
Nimm alle dafür!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3. The gardener
Language: English 
On her favorite pony
as white as snow,
the fairest princess
rides down the avenue.
 
On the path down which her steed
so finely prances,
the sand that I strewed there
glitters like gold!
 
You rose-colored little hat,
bobbing up and down,
O toss a feather
stealthily down!
 
And if, for that, you would like
a little flower from me,
take a thousand for one -
take all of them!

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 "Der Gärtner" = "The gardener"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Die Spinnerin
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Die Spinnerin", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 4 (1852), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf dem Dorf in den Spinnstuben
Sind lustig die Mädchen.
Hat jedes seinen Herzbuben,
Wie flink geht das Rädchen!

Spinnt jedes am Brautschatz,
Daß der Liebste sich freut.
Nicht lange, so gibt es
Ein Hochzeitsgeläut!

Kein' Seel', die mir gut ist,
Kommt mit mir zu plaudern;
Gar schwül mir zu Mut ist,
Und die Hände zaudern.

Und die Tränen mir rinnen
Leis übers Gesicht.
Wofür soll ich spinnen,
Ich weiß es ja nicht!

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First appeared in the Deutscher Musenalmanach für 1852.

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
4. In the village in the spinning rooms
Language: English 
In the village in the spinning rooms
The maidens are merry.
Each one has her special lad,
How quickly the spinning wheels whir!

Each one of them is spinning for her hope chest,
So that her beloved should be happy.
Not long now, then there shall be
A ringing of wedding bells!

No soul who is fond of me
Comes to chat with me;
I am feeling sorely oppressed,
And my hands falter.

And the tears flow
Quietly over my face.
For what purpose I am spinning,
I do not know!

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: 16
Word count: 91

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Im Wald
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Im Wald", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 5 (1851), published 1852 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich zieh' so allein in den Wald hinein!
O sieh zwei Falter fliegen!
Sie tummeln sich durch die Luft,
Und wenn sie ruh'n, so wiegen
Sie sich in der Blumen Duft,
Und ich bin so allein, voll Pein!

Ich zieh' so allein in den Wald hinein!
O sieh zwei Vöglein erschrocken
Entstieben dem warmen Nest!
Doch singen und suchen und locken
Sie hoch sich im Geäst,
Und ich bin so allein, voll Pein!

Ich zieh' so allein in den Wald hinein!
O sieh zwei Rehe zieh'n
An der grünen Halde zumal!
Und wie sie mich seh'n, entflieh'n
Sie fern in Berg und Tal,
Und ich bin so allein, voll Pein!

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by (Karl) Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (1816 - 1873)
5.
[Translation not yet available]
6. Abendlied
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Abendlied", op. 107 (Sechs Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 6 (1851), published 1852, stanzas 1,4 [ voice and piano ], Cassel, Luckhardt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist so still geworden,
Verrauscht des Abends Wehn,
Nun hört man aller Orten
Der Engel Füße gehn,
Rings in die Tiefe senket
Sich Finsterniß mit Macht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kränket
Und was dir bange macht!

 ... 

Nun stehn im Himmelskreise
Die Stern' in Majestät;
In gleichem festem Gleise
Der goldne Wagen geht.
Und gleich den Sternen lenket
Er deinen Weg durch Nacht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kränket,
Und was dir bange macht!

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Confirmed wtih Gedichte von Gottfried Kinkel, Erster Band, Siebente Auflage, Stuttgart, Verlag der J. F. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1872, pages 191-192.

by (Johann) Gottfried Kinkel (1815 - 1882)
6. Evening song
Language: English 
It has [become so]1 quiet.
The evening breeze has rustled itself out.
Now one hears everywhere
The footsteps of the angels.
All around darkness sinks
Powerfully into the [valleys]2;
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!

[ ... ]

Now all about the heavens
The stars stand in majesty.
Along the old, firm pathway
The golden carriage [the moon] is travelling.
And like the stars, it directs
Your way through the night.
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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.
    Contact: 

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Translated titles:
"Ein geistlich Abendlied" = "A sacred evening song"
"Ein geistliches Abendlied" = "A sacred evening song"
"Abendlied" = "Evening song"
"Geistliches Abendlied" = "Sacred evening song"

1 Blumner: "now become" (Musikalien-catalog von Heinrichshofen's Verlag in Magdeburg); further changes may exist not shown above. 2 Schumann: "depths"

This text was added to the website: 2008-09-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 170

Translation © by Sharon Krebs