English translations of Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2), opus 51

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

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1. Sehnsucht
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Sehnsucht", op. 51 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 1 (1840), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich blick' in mein Herz und ich blick' in die Welt,
Bis von schwimmenden Auge die Thräne mir fällt,
Wohl leuchtet die Ferne mit goldenem Licht,
Doch hält mich der Nord -- ich erreiche sie nicht --
O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit,
Und so flüchtig die Zeit!

Ich weiß ein Land, wo aus sonnigem Grün
Um versunkene Tempel die Trauben glühn,
Wo die purpurne Woge das Ufer beschäumt,
Und von kommenden Sängern der Lorbeer träumt;
Fern lockt es und winkt dem verlangenden Sinn,
Und ich kann nicht hin.

O hätt' ich Flügel, durch's Blau der Luft
Wie wollt' ich baden im Sonnenduft!
Doch umsonst! Und Stunde auf Stunde entflieht --
Vertraure die Jugend -- begrabe das Lied --
O die Schranken so eng, und die Welt so weit,
Und so flüchtig die Zeit!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. I look in my heart and I look at the world
Language: English 
I look in my heart and I look at the world
Till out of my [burning]1 eyes a tear falls.
Though the distance glows with golden light,
The north wind tells me I shall not reach it.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world, 
And how fleeting is time!

I know a land where in sun-filled greenery
Grapes gleam among sunken temples,
Where the purple wave covers the shore with foam
And laurels dream of singers to come.
It lures from afar and beckons my longing soul,
And I cannot go there!

If I had wings to fly through the blue
How I would wish to bathe in sun's fragrance!
But in vain! Hour flees upon hour;
Pass your youth in mourning, bury your song.
Ah! How narrow our confines, how wide the world
And how fleeting is time!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2002 by Allen Shearer, (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 Schumann and Spohr versions: "clouded"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 142

Translation © by Allen Shearer
2. Volksliedchen
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Volksliedchen", op. 51 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 2 (1840), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich früh in den Garten geh'
In meinem grünen Hut,
Ist mein erster Gedanke,
Was nun mein Liebster tut?

Am Himmel steht kein Stern,
Den ich dem Freund nicht gönnte.
Mein Herz gäb' ich ihm gern,
Wenn ich's heraus tun könnte.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. Folksong
Language: English 
Early, when I go out into the garden
In my green hat,
My first thought is
What my beloved is doing right now?

There is no star in the heavens
That I would begrudge him.
My heart I would gladly give him,
If I could take it out of my breast.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-10-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ich wandre nicht
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Ich wandre nicht", op. 51 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 3 (1841), published 1844 [ voice and piano ], Wien, Haslinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum soll ich denn wandern
Mit andern gleichen Schritt?
Ich pass' nicht zu den andern
Und Liebchen geht nicht mit.
Man singt in tausend Weisen
Von Bergen, Felsenhöhn:
Allein warum noch reisen?
Die Heimat ist so schön.

Ich will ja alles glauben,
Was draußen wächst und blüht,
Das Gold der süßen Trauben,
Wie's Sonnenfunken sprüht.
Allein, der Trank der Reben,
Er kommt ja auch hierher,
Wo mir mein holdes Leben
Ihn reicht, was will ich mehr?

Ich geh nicht ins Gewimmel
Der großen, weiten Welt;
Den klarsten, blausten Himmel
Zeigt Liebchens Augenzelt.
Und mehr als Frühlingswonne
Verspricht ihr Lächeln mir,
O zarte, meine Sonne!
Ich wandre nicht von hier.

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by Carl Christern (flourished c1840)
3. I will not go wandering
Language: English 
Why should I go wandering
In step with others?
I do not fit in with the others,
And my beloved does not accompany us.
In thousands of songs, others tell
Of mountains and craggy heights:
But why should one travel?
Home is so beautiful.

I will gladly believe everything [they tell of]
That grows and blooms out there,
The gold of the sweet grapes
That refracts the sparks of the sun. 
But the drink of the vines
Comes here as well,
[Here] where my sweet life
Serves it to me, what more do I want?

I will not go into the turmoil
Of the great, wide world;
The clearest, bluest sky
Is found in my beloved's eyes. 
And more than the joy of spring
Is promised to me by her smile,
O gentle one, my sun!
I will not wander from here.

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.
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Translated titles:
"Klage" = "Lament"
"Ich wandre nicht" = "I will not go wandering"


This text was added to the website: 2008-09-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 142

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Auf dem Rhein
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Auf dem Rhein", op. 51 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 4 (1846), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf deinem Grunde haben
Sie an verborgnem Ort
Den goldnen Schatz begraben,
Der Nibelungen Hort.

Ihn wahren deine Wellen
Bis an den Jüngsten Tag,
Zu der geheimen Stellen
Kein Räuber dringen mag.

Mir ward ins Herz gesenket
Ein Schatz, gleich wie dem Rhein,
Er ist darin ertränket,
Wird ewig drinnen sein.

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by Karl Leberecht Immermann (1796 - 1840)
4. On the Rhine
Language: English 
 In your depths you have buried
 in a secret place
 the golden treasure -
 the hoard of the Nibelungen.
 
 Your waves preserve it
 until the Day of Judgment;
 to that secret place
 no robber may penetrate.
 
 I have also sunk into my heart
 a treasure, just as in the Rhine:
 it has drowned in there
 and will remain there 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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Liebeslied
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Liebeslied", op. 51 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 2)) no. 5 (1849), published 1850 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dir zu eröffnen 
mein Herz verlangt mich;
Hört' ich von deinem, 
darnach verlangt mich;
Wie blickt so traurig 
die Welt mich an!

In meinem Sinne 
wohnet mein Freund nur,
Und sonsten keiner 
und keine Feindesspur.
Wie Sonnenaufgang 
ward mir ein Vorsatz!

Mein Leben will ich 
nur zum Geschäfte
Von seiner Liebe 
 ...  machen.
Ich denke seiner, 
mir blutet das Herz.

Kraft hab' ich keine 
als ihn zu lieben,
So recht im Stillen.
Was soll das werden!
Will ihn umarmen 
und kann es nicht.

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. I long to open up my heart for you
Language: English 
I long to open up my heart for you;
hearing from yours, I long for;
how pathetic the world seems to me!
In my mind only lives my friend,
And nobody else, not a trace of an enemy.
Like a sunrise (all of a sudden) I came to the conclusion!
In my life I will make it my topmost business
to love him,
I keep thinking of him, my heart's bleeding,
bereaved of strength but for to love him,
calmly and composed; where do we go!
I want to hold him in my arms but can not.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 by Linda Godry, (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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This text was added to the website: 2004-11-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 97

Translation © by Linda Godry