English translations of Drei zweistimmige Lieder, opus 43

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

1. Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär", op. 43 (Drei zweistimmige Lieder) no. 1 (1840), published 1844 [ duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär',
Und auch zwey Flüglein hätt',
Flög' ich zu dir;
Weil's aber nicht kann seyn,
Bleib' ich allhier.

  Bin ich gleich weit von dir,
Bin ich doch im Schlaf bey dir,
Und red' mit dir:
Wenn ich erwachen thu',
Bin ich allein.

  Es vergeht kein' Stund'  in der Nacht,
Da mein Herze nicht erwacht,
Und an dich gedenkt,
Daß du mir viel tausendmal 
Dein Herz geschenkt.

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Modern spelling would change "zwey" to "zwei", "seyn" to "sein", "bey" to "bei", "thu" to "tu", etc.

Note: the first stanza is quoted by Treitschke in a text set by Beethoven, Ruf vom Berge, WoO. 147

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1. If I were a little bird
Language: English 
 If I were a little bird
 and also had two little wings
 I would fly to you.
 But because that cannot be,
 I remain just here.
 
 Equally if I am far from you,
 yet I am with you in sleep
 and talk to you.
 When I become awake,
 I am alone.
 
 There is no hour of the night goes by
 that my heart does not wake
 and is thinking of you,
 that many thousandfold
 you gave your heart to me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 81

Translation © by David K. Smythe
2. Herbstlied
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Herbstlied", op. 43 (Drei zweistimmige Lieder) no. 2 (1840), published 1844 [ duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Laub fällt von den Bäumen,
Das zarte Sommerlaub.
Das Leben mit seinen Träumen
Zerfällt in Asch und Staub.

Die Vöglein im Walde sangen,
Wie schweigt der Wald jetzt still!
Die Lieb ist fortgegangen,
Kein Vöglein singen will.

Die Liebe kehrt wohl wieder
Im lieben künft'gen Jahr,
Und alles kehrt dann wieder,
Was jetzt verklungen war.

Du Winter, sei willkommen,
Dein Kleid ist rein und neu.
Er hat den Schmuck genommen,
Den Schmuck bewahrt er treu.

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by Siegfried August Mahlmann (1771 - 1826)
2. Autumn Song
Language: English 
The foliage falls from the trees,
The tender summer foliage. 
Life with its dreams 
Decomposes into ash and dust.

The little birds in the woods sang,
How silent the wood becomes now!
Love is gone away
No little birds will sing.

Love surely returns again
In the dear forthcoming year
And everything then returns
That has now died away.

Winter be welcome,
Thy garb is pure and new.
He has taken the jewellery,
He protects the jewellery faithfully.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Translation © by David K. Smythe
3. Schön Blümelein
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Schön Blümelein", op. 43 (Drei zweistimmige Lieder) no. 3 (1840), published 1844 [ duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Bonn, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich bin hinausgegangen
Des Morgens in der Früh,
Die Blümlein täten prangen,
Ich sah so schön sie nie.

Wagt' eins davon zu pflücken,
Weil mir's so wohl gefiel;
Doch als ich mich wollt bücken,
Sah ich ein lieblich Spiel.

Die Schmetterling' und Bienen,
Die Käfer hell und blank,
die mußten all ihm dienen
Bei fröhlichem Morgensang;

Und scherzten viel und küßten
Das Blümlein auf den Mund,
Und trieben's nach Gelüsten
Wohl eine ganze Stund.

Und wie sie so erzeiget
Ihr Spiel die Kreuz und Quer,
Hat's Blümlein sich geneiget
Mit Freuden hin und her.

Da hab ich's nicht gebrochen,
Es wär ja morgen tot,
Und habe nur gesprochen:
Ade, du Blümlein rot!

Und Schmetterling' und Bienen,
Die Käfer hell und blank,
Die sangen mit frohen Mienen
Mir einen schönen Dank.

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3. Sweet flower
Language: English 
 I went outside
 In the early morning
 The little flowers were resplendent,
 I never saw them so beautiful.
 
 I ventured to pluck one of them,
 Because it pleased me so much;
 Yet as I went to stoop,
 I saw a lovely game.
 
 Butterflies and bees,
 Beetles bright and shiny,
 They all had to pay it service
 With a merry morning song;
 
 And they joked a lot and kissed
 The little flower on the mouth,
 And had their own way with it
 For probably a whole hour.
 
 And how they showed off
 Their game of this way and that,
 The little flower bowed
 With delight to and fro.
 
 So I did not pluck it,
 It would certainly be dead tomorrow,
 And just said:
 Adieu, little red flower!
 
 And the butterflies and bees,
 The bright and shiny beetles,
 They sang with a happy expression
 A fine thank-you to me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 148

Translation © by David K. Smythe