English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 27
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)
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Nicht ein Lüftchen Regt sich leise, Sanft entschlummert Ruht der Hain; Durch der Blätter Dunkle Hülle Stiehlt sich lichter Sonnenschein. Ruhe, ruhe, Meine Seele, Deine Stürme Gingen wild, Hast getobt und Hast gezittert, Wie die Brandung, Wenn sie schwillt. Diese Zeiten Sind gewaltig, Bringen Herz Und Hirn in Not -- Ruhe, ruhe, Meine Seele, Und vergiß, Was dich bedroht!
Text Authorship:
- by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929), "Ruhe, meine Seele!"
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An "Originalbeitrag" to Moderne Dichter-Charaktere, ed. Wilhelm Arent, Berlin: [privately published by the editor], 1885.Not a breeze is stirring lightly, the wood lies slumbering gently; through the dark cover of leaves steals bright sunshine. Rest, rest, my soul, your storms have gone wild, have raged and trembled like the surf when it breaks. These times are powerful, bringing torment to heart and mind; rest, rest, my soul, and forget what is threatening you!
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929), "Ruhe, meine Seele!"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 59
Wenn du es wüßtest, Was träumen heißt von brennenden Küssen, Von Wandern und Ruhen mit der Geliebten, Aug in Auge, Und kosend und plaudernd, Wenn du es wüßtest, Du neigtest dein Herz! Wenn du es wüßtest, Was bangen heißt in einsamen Nächten, Umschauert vom Sturm, da niemand tröstet Milden Mundes die kampfmüde Seele, Wenn du es wüßtest, Du kämest zu mir. Wenn du es wüßtest, Was leben heißt, umhaucht von der Gottheit Weltschaffendem Atem, Zu schweben empor, lichtgetragen, Zu seligen Höhn, Wenn du es wüßtest, Du lebtest mit mir!
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Hart (1855 - 1906), "Wenn du es wüßtest"
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If you only knew what it's like to dream of burning kisses, of wandering and resting with one's beloved, eye turned to eye, and cuddling and chatting - if you only knew, you would incline your heart to me! If you only knew what it's like to feel dread on lonely nights, surrounded by a raging storm, while no one comforts with a mild voice your struggle-weary soul - if you only knew, you would come to me. If you only knew what it's like to live, surrounded by God's world-creating breath, to float up, carried by the light, to blessed heights - if you only knew, then you would live with me!
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Hart (1855 - 1906), "Wenn du es wüßtest"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 111
Auf, hebe die funkelnde Schale empor zum Mund, Und trinke beim Freudenmahle dein Herz gesund. Und wenn du sie hebst, so winke mir heimlich zu, Dann lächle ich und dann trinke ich still wie du... Und still gleich mir betrachte um uns das Heer Der trunknen Zecher -- verachte sie nicht zu sehr. Nein, hebe die blinkende Schale, gefüllt mit Wein, Und laß beim lärmenden Mahle sie glücklich sein. Doch hast du das Mahl genossen, den Durst gestillt, Dann verlasse der lauten Genossen festfreudiges Bild, Und wandle hinaus in den Garten zum Rosenstrauch, Dort will ich dich dann erwarten nach altem Brauch, Und will an die Brust dir sinken, eh du's gehofft, Und deine Küsse trinken, wie ehmals oft, Und flechten in deine Haare der Rose Pracht. O komm', du wunderbare, ersehnte Nacht!
Text Authorship:
- by John Henry Mackay (1864 - 1933), "Heimliche Aufforderung"
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Up, raise the sparkling cup to your lips, And drink your heart's fill at the joyous feast. And when you raise it, so wink secretly at me, Then I'll smile and drink quietly, as you... And quietly as I, look around at the crowd Of drunken revelers -- don't think too ill of them. No, lift the twinkling cup, filled with wine, And let them be happy at the noisy meal. But when you've savored the meal, your thirst quenched, Then quit the loud gathering's joyful fest, And wander out into the garden, to the rosebush, There shall I await you, as often of old. And ere you know it shall I sink upon your breast, And drink your kisses, as so often before, And twine the rose's splendour into your hair. Oh, come, you wondrous, longed-for night!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by John Henry Mackay (1864 - 1933), "Heimliche Aufforderung"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 137
Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen, Und auf dem Wege, den ich gehen werde, Wird uns, die Glücklichen, sie wieder einen Inmitten dieser sonnenatmenden Erde . . . Und zu dem Strand, dem weiten, wogenblauen, Werden wir still und langsam niedersteigen, Stumm werden wir uns in die Augen schauen, Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen . . .
Text Authorship:
- by John Henry Mackay (1864 - 1933), "Morgen!. . . ", appears in Das starke Jahr. Der "Dichtungen" zweite Folge.
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And tomorrow the sun will shine again, and on the path I will take, it will unite us again, we happy ones, upon this sun-breathing earth... And to the shore, the wide shore with blue waves, we will descend quietly and slowly; we will look mutely into each other's eyes and the silence of happiness will settle upon us.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by John Henry Mackay (1864 - 1933), "Morgen!. . . ", appears in Das starke Jahr. Der "Dichtungen" zweite Folge.
Go to the general single-text view
Translation of title "Morgen" = "Tomorrow"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 59