English translations of Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier, opus 40

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

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1. Märzveilchen
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Märzveilchen", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 1 (1840), published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Himmel wölbt sich rein und blau,
Der Reif stellt Blumen aus zur Schau.

Am Fenster prangt ein flimmernder Flor.
Ein Jüngling steht, ihn betrachtend, davor.

Und hinter den Blumen blühet noch gar
Ein blaues, ein lächelndes Augenpaar.

Märzveilchen, wie jener noch keine gesehn!
Der Reif wird angehaucht zergehn.

Eisblumen fangen zu schmelzen an,
Und Gott sei gnädig dem jungen Mann!

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
1. March violets
Language: English 
The heavens arch above, [pure]1 and blue,
and the frost exhibits its [flowers]2.

The window is sparkling with [shimmering]3 flora.
A young man is standing in front, [gazing]4 intently.
 
And behind the flowers there blossoms
a pair of laughing blue eyes.

March violets, [like nothing ever seen before!
The frost will dissolve with one breath!]5
 
Frosted flowers now begin to melt,
[and]6 God, be lenient with this young man.

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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Note: changed second line on Sep 8, 2018 thanks to a suggestion by Richard Mix.

1 Gade: "so pure"
2 Gade: "flowers of ice"
3 Gade: "winter"
4 Gade: "thinking"
5 Gade: "as they flourish there, nobody has ever yet seen such violets."
6 omitted by Gade.


This text was added to the website: 2003-11-20
Line count: 10
Word count: 76

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Muttertraum
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Muttertraum", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 2 (1840), published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Mutter betet herzig und schaut 
  Entzückt auf den schlummernden Kleinen;
Er ruht in der Wiege so sanft und traut,
  Ein Engel muß er ihr scheinen.

Sie küßt ihn und herzt ihn; sie hält sich kaum,
  Vergessen der irdischen Schmerzen;
Es schweift in der Zukunft ihr Hoffnungstraum;
  So träumen Mütter im Herzen.

Der Rab' indeß mit der Sippschaft sein
  Kreischt draußen am Fenster die Weise:
Dein Engel, dein Engel wird unser sein!
  Der Räuber dient uns zur Speise!

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
2. A mother's dream
Language: English 
The mother prays sweetly and gazes with delight
upon her slumbering little one.
He rests in his cradle, so tender and cosy.
He must seem an angel to her.

She kisses him and hugs him, she cannot restrain herself,
Forgetting all earthly pain,
her hopeful dreams wander into the future.
Thus do mothers often dream.

The raven meanwhile, with its clan,
shrieks a tune outside the window:
Your angel, your angel will be ours -
the brigand shall serve us at supper.

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: 2003-11-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Der Soldat
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Soldat", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 3 (1840), published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es geht bei gedämpfter Trommel Klang;
Wie weit noch die Stätte! der Weg wie lang!
O wär' er zur Ruh und alles vorbei!
Ich glaub', es bricht mir das Herz entzwei!

Ich hab' in der Welt nur ihn geliebt,
Nur ihn, dem jetzt man den Tod doch gibt.
Bei klingendem Spiele wird paradiert;
Dazu bin auch ich kommandiert.

Nun schaut er auf zum letzten Mal
In Gottes Sonne freudigen Strahl, --
Nun binden sie ihm die Augen zu --
Dir schenke Gott die ewige Ruh'.

Es haben dann Neun wohl angelegt,
Acht Kugeln haben vorbei gefegt;
Sie zitterten Alle vor Jammer und Schmerz --
Ich aber, ich traf ihn mitten in das Herz.

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
3. He walks to the sound of a muffled drum
Language: English 
 He walks to the sound of a muffled drum;
 how far the place! - how long the way!
 O if only he were at rest and everything past already!
 I think it will break my heart in two!
 
 I loved only him in the world -
 only him, whom they are now putting to death!
 To the band they parade;
 for this task I am also ordered.
 
 Now he gazes for the last time
 up at the joyous sunbeams of God's sun;
 now they blindfold his eyes -
 may God grant you eternal peace!
 
 The nine then took aim:
 eight bullets shot wide.
 They trembled, all full of misery and pain -
 but I - I shot him right through the heart.

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: 2003-11-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 118

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Der Spielmann
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Spielmann", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 4 (1840), published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Städtchen gibt es des Jubels viel,
Da halten sie Hochzeit mit Tanz und mit Spiel.
Dem Fröhlichen blinket der Wein so rot,
Die Braut nur gleicht dem getünchten Tod.

Ja tot für den, den nicht sie vergißt,
Der doch beim Fest nicht Bräutigam ist:
Da steht er immitten der Gäste im Krug,
Und streichet die Geige, lustig genug!

Er streichet die Geige, sein Haar ergraut,
Es schwingen die Saiten gellend und laut,
Er drückt sie ans Herz und achtet es nicht,
Ob auch sie in tausend Stücken zerbricht.

Es ist gar grausig, wenn einer so stirbt, 
Wenn jung sein Herz um Freude noch wirbt;
Ich mag und will nicht länger es sehn,
Das möchte den Kopf mir schwindelnd verdrehn. --

Wer heißt euch mit Fingern zeigen auf mich?
O Gott! bewahr uns gnädiglich,
Daß keinen der Wahnsinn übermannt;
Bin selber ein armer Musikant.

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Note for stanza 2, line 4, word 2 and for stanza 3, line 1, word 2: in Fischer-Dieskau's Book of Lieder (1977), this is "streichelt" (for Schumann); however the 1981 edition and all scores consulted appear to have "streichet".

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
4. The fiddler
Language: English 
In the little town there is much festivity:
they are holding a wedding there with dance and play.
To the happy man, the wine sparkles so red;
but the bride looks like whitewashed death.

Yes, dead she is to him whom she cannot forget;
he is at the feast but not as the bridegroom.
He stands among the guests at the inn,
bowing his fiddle blithely enough.

He scrapes at his fiddle, his hair turning grey.
The strings resound: shrill and loud;
he presses it to his heart, paying no heed
whether it breaks into a thousand pieces.

It is quite hideous when one dies this way,
his heart young and still striving for joy.
I cannot and will not watch any longer!
It will make my head spin.

Who are you, with your fingers pointing at me?
O God - graciously protect us
from the madness that may overwhelm us.
For I am myself a poor musician.

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: 2003-11-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 157

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Verratene Liebe
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Verratene Liebe", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 5 (1840), published 1842, stanzas 1-3 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Da nachts wir uns küßten, o Mädchen,
hat keiner uns zugeschaut.
Die Sterne, die standen am Himmel,
wir haben den Sternen getraut.

Es ist ein Stern gefallen,
der hat dem Meer uns verklagt,
da hat das Meer es dem Ruder,
das Ruder dem Schiffer gesagt.

Da sang der selbige Schiffer
es seiner Liebsten vor.
Nun singen's auf Straßen und Märkten
die Knaben und Mädchen im Chor.

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
5. Betrayed love
Language: English 
That night we kissed each other, o maiden,
no one was observing us.
The stars, which stood in the sky -
we confided only in those stars.

It was one star that fell,
and accused us to the sea;
then the sea told it to a rudder,
and the rudder told it to a sailor.

That same sailor sang it
to his sweetheart.
Now, on the streets and in the market,
the boys and girls sing of it in chorus.1

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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Translated titles
"Verratene Liebe" = "Betrayed love"
"Verrathene Liebe" = "Betrayed love"

1 Humperdinck adds 
They are singing of our love,
of waves and of starlight.
Let them, Dearest, sing and whisper:
we are kissing and do not hear them!


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust