English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 32

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

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1. Ich trage meine Minne
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Ich trage meine Minne", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1 (1896)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich trage meine Minne 
Vor Wonne stumm
Im Herzen und im Sinne 
Mit mir herum.
Ja, daß ich dich gefunden, 
Du liebes Kind,
Das freut mich alle Tage, 
Die mir beschieden sind.

Und ob auch der Himmel trübe, 
Kohlschwarz die Nacht,
Hell leuchtet meiner Liebe 
Goldsonn'ge Pracht.
Und liegt auch die Welt in Sünden, 
So tut mir's weh --
Die arge muß erblinden 
Vor deiner Unschuld Schnee.

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Note: in some editions of the Strauss in stanza 2, line 5 there is a typo in word 2 ("lügt" instead of "liegt").

by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
1. I bear my love
Language: English 
I bear my love 
Silent with joy,
In my heart and in my mind
With me everywhere.
Yes, that I have found you, 
Beloved one,
Will delight me every [hour]1 
That has been granted to me.

[Though]2 the sky is gloomy,
And the night is as black as coal,
My love shines brightly,
With the splendor of sunny gold. 
And although the world is full of sin, 
Which makes me sad,
The evil must be blinded
By your innocence, pure as snow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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1 Strauss: "day"
2 Strauss: "And though"


This text was added to the website: 2016-09-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 84

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Sehnsucht
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Sehnsucht", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1896)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich ging den Weg entlang, der einsam lag,
Den stets allein ich gehe jeden Tag.
Die Heide schweigt, das Feld ist menschenleer;
Der Wind nur weht im Knickbusch um mich her.

Weit liegt vor mir die Straße ausgedehnt;
Es hat mein Herz nur dich, nur dich ersehnt.
Und kämest Du, ein Wunder wär's für mich,
Ich neigte mich vor dir: ich liebe dich.

Und im Begegnen, nur ein einzger Blick,
Des ganzen Lebens wär er mein Geschick.
Und richtest du dein Auge kalt auf mich,
Ich trotze Mädchen dir: ich liebe dich.

Doch wenn dein schönes Auge grüßt und lacht,
Wie eine Sonne mir in schwerer Nacht,
Ich zöge rasch dein süßes Herz an mich
Und flüstre leise dir: ich liebe dich.

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by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
2. Longing
Language: English 
I went along the path, which lay there secluded,
I walk it every day, and always alone.
The heath keeps silence, the field is deserted;
only the wind blows around me in the thicket.

The road lies far ahead of me;
my heart has longed only for you, only you.
If you came, it would be a miracle to me,
I bowed to you: I love you.

And in this meeting just one look
would mean the fate of my entire life.
If you directed your eye to me coldly,
I would resist, my maiden: I love you. 

But if your beautiful eye greeted and laughed,
like a sun to me in heavy night,
I'd quickly pull your sweet heart to me
and softly whisper: I love you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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: 16
Word count: 128

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
3. Liebeshymnus
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Liebeshymnus", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Heil jenem Tag, der dich geboren,
heil ihm, da ich zuerst dich sah!
In deiner Augen Glanz verloren
steh' ich, ein sel'ger Träumer, da.

Mir scheint der Himmel aufzugehn,
den ich von ferne nur geahnt,
und eine Sonne darf ich sehn,
daran die Sehnsucht nur gemahnt.

Wie schön mein Bild in diesem Blicke!
In diesem Blick mein Glück wie groß!
Und flehend ruf' ich zum Geschicke:
O weile, weile, wandellos!

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
3. Hymn of love
Language: English 
 Happy was the day you were born -
 happy was the day I first saw you!
 Lost in the radiance of your eyes,
 I stand, a blissful dreamer.
 
 Heaven seems to open to me,
 yet I only sense it from afar,
 and I am permitted to gaze upon the sun,
 something my yearning only ever imagined.
 
 How wonderful it is to see my reflection in your eyes!
 In your gaze, how great is my happiness!
 And I call to my fate imploringly:
 "Oh tarry, remain unchanging!"

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: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. O süßer Mai!
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "O süßer Mai!", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O süßer Mai, o habe du Erbarmen,
o süßer Mai, dich fleh' ich glühend an:
an deiner Brust seh' ich die Flur erwarmen,
und alles schwillt, was lebt in deinem Bann;
der du so mild und huldvoll ohne Ende,
o lieber Mai, gewähre mir die Spende!

Der düstre Pilger, der in diesen Gau'n
entrann dem Eishauch winterlicher Zeit,
erkor ein Mädchen, mild wie du zu schauen,
lenzfrisch gleich dir in keuscher Herrlichkeit.
Daß wir uns lieben und in Lieb' umarmen,
Erbarmen, Mai, Holdseligster, Erbarmen!

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
4. O sweet May!
Language: English 
 O sweet May, have mercy;
 O sweet May, I entreat you ardently:
 at your bosom I see the meadow grow warm,
 and everything that lives in your realm is growing;
 you, so endlessly tranquil and benevolent,
 o dear May, grant me this favour!
 
 The drab pilgrim, who in these regions
 escaped the icy breath of wintry times,
 chose a maiden, as mild as you look,
 spring-fresh like you in chaste magnificence.
 That we might love each other and embrace in love -
 grant it, May, the most lovely and blessed, have mercy!

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: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Himmelsboten
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Himmelsboten", op. 32 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Mondschein, der ist schon verblichen,
die finstre Nacht ist hingeschlichen;
steh auf, du edle Morgenröt',
zu dir all mein Vertrauen steht.

Phöbus, ihr Vorbot' wohlgeziert,
hat schon den Wagen angeschirrt,
die Sonnenross' sind vorgespannt,
Zügel ruht in seiner Hand.

Ihr Vorbot', der Don Lucifer,
schwebt allbereits am Himmel her,
er hat die Wolken aufgeschlossen,
die Erd' mit seinem Tau begossen.

O fahrt vor ihr Schlafkämmerlein,
weckt leis die süße Liebste mein,
verkündet ihr, was ich euch sag':
Mein Dienst, mein Gruß, ein' guten Tag.

Doch müßt ihr sie fein züchtig wecken,
dabei meine heimliche Lieb' entdecken,
sollt sagen, wie ihr Diener wacht
so kummervoll die ganze Nacht.

Schaut für mich an die gelben Haar',
ihr Hälslein blank, ihr Äuglein klar;
küßt ihr für mich den roten Mund
und, wenn sie's leid't, die Brüstlein rund.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
5. Messengers from Heaven
Language: English 
 The moonlight has turned pale already
 and the dark night has slunk away;
 awaken, noble Dawn,
 all my assurance lies with you.
 
 Phoebus, your well-adorned herald,
 has already harnessed his chariot;
 the sun-steeds are ready
 and his riding whip lies in his hand.
 
 Your other herald, Don Lucifer,
 hovers ready in the sky:
 he has unlocked the clouds
 that sprinkle the earth with his dew.
 
 O travel past her bedroom chamber,
 awaken gently my sweet love,
 declare to her what I say to you:
 my servitude, my greeting, and a good day.
 
 But you must awaken her very discreetly,
 revealing my secret love thereby,
 and you should tell her that her servant stands in vigil
 through the entire night, full of heartache.
 
 Look for me at her yellow hair,
 her bare throat, her clear eyes;
 kiss her red mouth for me
 and, if she suffers it, her round breasts.

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: 24
Word count: 150

Translation © by Emily Ezust