English translations of Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine, opus 4

by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902)

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1. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902), "Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen", op. 4 (Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am leuchtenden [Sommermorgen]1
Geh' ich im Garten herum.
Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
[Ich aber, ich wandle stumm.]2

Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
Und [schaun]3 mitleidig mich an:
Sei [unserer]4 Schwester nicht böse,
Du trauriger blasser Mann.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 150.

Note for stanza 1, line 4: Heine's first version of this poem had "Ich aber wandle stumm."

1 Gaul: "Frühlingsmorgen"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Schumann: "Ich aber wandle stumm"
3 Franz: "schauen"
4 Franz, R. Schumann: "unsrer"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. On a shining summer morning
Language: English 
On a shining summer morning
I wander around my garden.
The flowers are whispering and speaking;
I, however, wander silently.

The flowers are whispering and speaking
And look at me sympathetically.
"Do not be angry with our sister,
You sad, pale man."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Mein Liebchen, wir saßen beisammen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902), "Mein Liebchen, wir saßen beisammen", op. 4 (Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Liebchen, wir sassen beisammen,
Traulich im leichten Kahn.
Die Nacht war still, und wir schwammen
Auf weiter Wasserbahn.

Die Geisterinsel, die schöne,
Lag dämm'rig im Mondenglanz;
Dort klangen liebe Töne,
Dort wogte der Nebeltanz.

Dort klang es lieb und lieber,
Und wogt' es hin und her;
Wir aber schwammen vorüber,
Trostlos auf weitem Meer.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 147.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. My darling, we sat together
Language: English 
My darling, we sat together,
Comfortably in the light little boat;
The night was still, and we floated
on the broad watery road.

The ghostly island, the lovely one,
lay duskily in the moonlight;
there rang out lovely tones,
there the dancing mists waved.

The sounds there grew lovelier and lovelier,
and the dance surged back and forth;
but we floated past,
Comfortless on the wide sea.

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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902), "Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome", op. 4 (Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Im]1 Rhein, [im]1 [schönen]2 Strome,
Da spiegelt sich in den [Well'n]3
Mit seinem großen Dome
Das [große, heil'ge]4 Köln.

Im Dom da steht ein Bildnis,
Auf [goldnem Leder]5 gemalt;
In meines Lebens Wildnis
Hat's freundlich [hineingestrahlt]6.

Es schweben Blumen und [Eng'lein]7
Um unsre liebe Frau;
Die Augen, die Lippen, die Wänglein,
Die gleichen der Liebsten genau.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 120.

Note: in the first version of the poem, Heine has "heiligen" in stanza 1, line 1, word 4.

1 Hollmann, Urspruch: "Am" / "am"; further changes may exist for Hollmann's setting, not shown above.
2 Schumann, Franz: "heiligen"
3 Liszt: "Wellen"
4 Liszt, Urspruch: "große, das heilige"
5 Franz: "goldenem Grunde"; Urspruch: "goldenes Leder"
6 Urspruch: "herein gestrahlt"
7 Ender: "Eng'lein"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. In the Rhine, in the fair stream
Language: English 
In the Rhine, in the holy stream
Is it mirrored in the waves -
With its great cathedral -
That great, holy city Cologne.

In the Cathedral stands an image
Painted on golden leather;
Into the wildness of my life
Has it shone, friendly.

Flowers and little cherubs hover
Around our beloved Lady;
The eyes, the lips, the cheeks--
They match my beloved's exactly.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
4. Wasserfahrt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902), "Wasserfahrt", op. 4 (Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand gelehnet an den Mast,
Und zählte jede Welle.
[Ade!]1 mein schönes Vaterland!
Mein Schiff, das segelt schnelle!

Ich [kam schön]2 Liebchens Haus vorbei,
Die Fensterscheiben blinken;
Ich [guck']3 mir fast die Augen aus,
Doch [will mir niemand]4 winken.

Ihr Tränen, bleibt mir aus dem Aug',
Daß ich nicht dunkel sehe.
[Mein krankes]5 Herze brich mir nicht
Vor [allzugroßem]6 Wehe.

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1 Lachner: "Leb wohl"
2 Hensel: "geh' bei"
3 Lachner: "schau"
4 Hensel: "niemand will mir"
5 Hensel, Pfitzner: "Du armes"
6 Hensel: "übergroßem"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. I stood leaning against the mast
Language: English 
I stood leaning against the mast
and counted every wave.
Adieu, my fair fatherland!
My ship, it sails so swiftly!
 
I passed my fair sweetheart's house,
the windowpanes flashing;
I almost stared my eyes out,
but no one waved to me.
 
You tears, stay away from my eyes,
for you make it too dark to see.
[My sick]1 heart, do not break
from this overwhelming grief.

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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Pfitzner: "You poor"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Wenn zwei von einander scheiden  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Wilhelm Stade (1817 - 1902), "Wenn zwei von einander scheiden", op. 4 (Vier [Fünf] Lieder von H. Heine) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn zwei von einander scheiden,
So geben sie sich die Händ',
Und fangen an zu weinen,
Und seufzen ohne End'.

Wir haben nicht [geweinet]1,
Wir seufzten nicht Weh und Ach!
Die [Tränen und die Seufzer]2,
Die kamen hinten nach.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 153.

1 Reinecke: "geweint"
2 Decker, Reinecke: "Seufzer und die Tränen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. When two people part
Language: English 
When two people part
They give each other their hands
And they begin to weep
And sigh endlessly!
We did not weep,
And did not sigh "woe" and "alas."
The tears and the sighs
Came afterwards!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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: 2006-12-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs