English translations of Vier Gesänge, opus posth. 142

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

1. Trost im Gesang
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Trost im Gesang", op. posth. 142 no. 1 (1840), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Wandrer, dem verschwunden
So Sonn' als Mondenlicht,
Der singt ein Lied ins Dunkel
Und härmt sich länger nicht.
Er schreitet mutig weiter
Die menschenleere Bahn,
Viel lichte Sangesbilder,
Die ziehen ihm voran.

Nacht ist's auch mir geworden,
Die Freunde stehen fern,
Von meinem Himmel schwindet
Der allerletzte Stern;
Doch geh' ich mutig weiter
Die menschenleere Bahn,
Noch ziehen Sangesbilder
Ja mir auch licht voran.

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by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
1. Comfort in song
Language: English 
The wanderer, for whom has vanished
Both sunlight and moonlight,
He sings a song into the darkness
And sorrows no longer.
He strides courageously onward
Along the deserted pathway,
Many luminous song-images
Move along the pathway before him.

For me, too, it has become night,
My friends are far from me,
From my heaven vanishes
The very last star;
Yet I stride courageously onward
Along the deserted pathway,
Song-images still move
Before me luminously.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-11-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 74

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Lehn deine Wang'
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Lehn deine Wang'", op. posth. 142 no. 2 (1840), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lehn deine Wang' an meine Wang',
Dann fliessen die Tränen zusammen;
Und an mein Herz drück fest dein Herz,
Dann schlagen zusammen die Flammen!

Und wenn in die große Flamme fliesst
Der Strom von unsern Tränen,
Und wenn dich mein Arm gewaltig umschließt -
Sterb' ich vor Liebessehnen!

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Lay your cheek against my cheek
Language: English 
Lay your cheek against my cheek,
 Then our tears will flow together;
 And against my heart press firmly your heart,
 Then their flames will leap together!

 And when, into the great flame, flows
 The stream of our tears,
 And when my arm embraces you powerfully -
 I shall die of love's yearning!

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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mädchen‑Schwermut
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Mädchen-Schwermut", op. posth. 142 no. 3 (1840), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kleine Tropfen, seid ihr Tränen
An den Blumenkelchen da?
Oder war's des Herzens Sehnen,
Das die Blumen weinen sah?

Frühlingssäuseln, wehst die Klagen
In das zarte junge Grün?
Oder hör' nur ich es fragen:
Wo sind deine Freuden hin?

Gottes Augen seid ihr nimmer,
Sternlein in dem Himmelszelt!
Ach, es strahlt kein Trostesschimmer
In die freudenlose Welt!

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by Lily Bernhard (flourished 1840)
3. The maiden's melancholy
Language: English 
Little droplets, are you tears
Upon the calyces of the flowers there?
Or was it the yearning of my heart
That saw the flowers weeping?

Springtime breezes, do you waft laments
Into the delicate young greenery?
Or do only I hear you ask:
Where have your joys gone?

You are not the eyes of God,
You little stars in the canopy of heaven!
Ah, no shimmer of comfort shines
Into the joyless world!

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2013-06-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Mein Wagen rollet langsam
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Mein Wagen rollet langsam", op. posth. 142 no. 4 (1840), published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Wagen rollet langsam
Durch lustiges Waldesgrün,
Durch blumige Taler, die zaubrisch
Im Sonnenglanze blühn.

Ich sitze und sinne und träume,
Und denk' an die Liebste mein;
Da grüßen drei Schattengestalten
Kopfnickend zum Wagen herein.

Sie hüpfen und schneiden Gesichter,
So spöttisch und doch so scheu,
Und quirlen wie Nebel zusammen,
Und kichern und huschen vorbei.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. My cart rolls slowly
Language: English 
 My cart rolls slowly
 through the cheerful forest green,
 through flowery valleys that magically
 bloom in the sun's gleam.
 
 I sit and think and dream,
 and muse about my sweetheart;
 three shadowy forms greet me,
 nodding through the carriage window.
 
 They hop and make faces,
 so mocking and yet so shy,
 and they blend together like mist
 and giggle and dart away.

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: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust