English translations of Vier Lieder von Carl Busse und Richard Dehmel, opus 31

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

1. Blauer Sommer
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Blauer Sommer", op. 31 (Vier Lieder von Carl Busse und Richard Dehmel) no. 1 (1895), published 1896 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein blauer Sommer glanz- und glutenschwer
Geht über Wiesen, Felder, Gärten her.
Die Sonnenkrone glüht auf seinen Locken,
Sein warmer Atem läutet Blütenglocken.
Ein goldnes Band umzieht die blaue Stirne,
Schwer aus den Zweigen fällt die reife Frucht
Und Sens' und Sichel blitzt auf Flur und Feld,
Und rot von Rosen ist die ganze Welt.

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by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918)
1. Blue summer
Language: English 
A blue summer, heavy with shine and embers,
Approaches us through meadows, fields, and gardens,
The sun's crown glows on its locks of hair,
Its warm breath rings flower bells.
A golden ribbon encircles his blue forehead,
Ripe fruit falls heavily from the branches
And scythe and sickle flash through field and farmland,
And the entire world is red with roses.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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: 2008-12-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 61

Translation © by Joel Ayau
2. Wenn...
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Wenn...", op. 31 (Vier Lieder von Carl Busse und Richard Dehmel) no. 2 (1895), published 1896 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wärst du mein Weib und wärst du mein Lieb,
Wie wollt' ich dich jauchzend umschlingen,
Ich wüßte ja nicht, wo das Herz mir blieb'
Vor lauter seligem Klingen.

Ich flög' in den nächtigen Himmel hinein,
Den funkelndsten Stern zu trennen,
Das wär' der leuchtende Demantstein,
Der sollt' im Haar dir brennen.

Nach Persien flög' ich, hinein ins Land;
Wo Schiras Rosen sich wiegen,
Die Rosen gäben das Kronenband,
Das sollt' die Locken dir umschmiegen.

Ich stieg' hernieder ins tiefste Meer
Und brächte dir rote Korallen,
Und meine Lieder, die wären ein Heer
Lenztrunkner Nachtigallen.

Die sollten um dich ihren Reigen ziehn,
Bis die Sehnsucht dich triebe zu mir,
Gewiegt und umklungen von Melodien,
Von junger, jauchzender Liebe.

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by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918)
2. If . . .
Language: English 
And if you were my wife and if you were my love,
How I would embrace you with rejoicing,
I would not know where my heart had gotten to
For such pure rapturous resounding.

I would fly into the night-time sky
To pluck the most sparkling of the stars,
It would become the shining diamond
That would burn brightly in your hair.

I would fly to Persia, inland,
Where Shiraz's roses sway,
The roses would form a coronet
That should caressingly encircle your curls.

I would descend into the deepest ocean
And would bring you red corals,
And my songs, they would become an army
Of nightingales intoxicated by spring.

They should wind their dance about you,
Until longing drove you to me,
Rocked and surrounded by the melodies
Of young, rejoicing love.

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2013-02-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Weißer Jasmin
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Weißer Jasmin", op. 31 (Vier Lieder von Carl Busse und Richard Dehmel) no. 3, published 1896 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bleiche Blüte, Blüte der Liebe,
Leuchte über dem Laubendach,
Ruf' in klopfenden Mädchenherzen,
Blüte der Liebe, die Sehnsucht wach!
Deiner Kelche verströmender Atem
Zittert, verzittert so schwer und stark,
Schwül von deinen duftenden Kronen
Weht der Nachtwind über den Park.

In der Laube lauschen zwei Augen.
Zögert und zagt ein Mädchenmund,
Sorge dich nicht und laß dich küssen,
Sieh, nur Sträucher raunen im Rund.

Und es ruft dir im pochenden Herzen
Weißer Jasmin die Seele wach -
Weiße Blüte, Blüte der Liebe
Leuchte über dem Laubendach.

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by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918)
3. White jasmine
Language: English 
Pale blossom, blossom of love,
Shine over the roof of the arbour,
Within the beating hearts of maidens
Awaken longing, blossom of love!
The exhaling breath of your calices
Trembles, trembles away so heavily and strongly,
Laden with the scent of your coronas
The night wind wafts sensuously over the park.

In the arbour two eyes are listening,
A maiden's lips demur and hesitate,
Do not be anxious and let yourself be kissed,
See, only bushes are murmuring around us.

And within your beating heart,
White jasmine is awakening longing --
White [blossoms, blossoms]1 of love
Shine above the roof of the arbour.

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.
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1 Strauss: "blossom, blossom"


This text was added to the website: 2013-02-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 103

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Stiller Gang
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Stiller Gang", op. 31 (Vier Lieder von Carl Busse und Richard Dehmel) no. 4, published 1896 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Abend graut, Herbstfeuer brennen.
Über den Stoppeln geht der Rauch entzwei.
Kaum ist mein Weg noch zu erkennen.
Bald kommt die Nacht; ich muß mich trennen.
Ein Käfer surrt an meinem Ohr vorbei.
Vorbei.

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by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920)
4. Silent walk
Language: English 
The evening grows gray, autumn fires burn.
Over the stubble, smoke floats in two columns.
My path is hardly recognizable.
Soon night will come; I must leave.
A beetle flits murmuring past my ear.
Past.

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: 6
Word count: 35

Translation © by Emily Ezust