English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 41

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

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1. Wiegenlied
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Wiegenlied", op. 41 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1 (1899), published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Träume, träume, du mein süßes Leben,
Von dem Himmel, der die Blumen bringt.
Blüten schimmern da, die leben
Von dem Lied, das deine Mutter singt.

Träume, träume, Knospe meiner Sorgen,
Von dem Tage, da die Blume sproß;
Von dem hellen Blütenmorgen,
Da dein Seelchen sich der Welt erschloß.

Träume, träume, Blüte meiner Liebe,
Von der stillen, von der heilgen Nacht,
Da die Blume seiner Liebe
Diese Welt zum Himmel mir gemacht.

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by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920)
1. Lullaby
Language: English 
Dream, dream, my sweet life,
of the heaven that brings flowers.
Shimmering there are blossoms that [live on]1
the song that your mother is singing.

Dream, dream, bud of my worries,
of the day the flower bloomed;
of the bright morning of blossoming,
when your little soul opened up to the world.

Dream, dream, blossom of my love,
of the quiet, of the holy night
when the flower of his love
made this world a heaven for 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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translation of title "Wiegenlied" = "Lullaby"
1 in the Pfitzner version: "shiver to"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. In der Campagna
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "In der Campagna", op. 41 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2 (1899), published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich grüsse die Sonne, die dort versinkt,
ich grüsse des Meeres schweigende Fluten, 
das durstig die Gluten trinkt,
die lautlos an seinem Herzen verbluten.

Ich grüsse die Ebene, wie liegt sie still,
des Abends geheimnissvoll dämmernde Weite, 
durch die ich, der ich nach Hause will,
nun schneller und immer schneller schreite!

Wie ist die Brust von Glück geschwellt,
mich umgaukelt die luftige Schaar meiner Lieder, 
und ich grüsse die Welt, diese herrliche Welt!
Ich grüsse sie, morgen seh' ich sie wieder!

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by John Henry Mackay (1864 - 1933)
2. In the Roman Campagna
Language: English 
I greet the sun which sets over there,
I greet the sea's silent waters,
which thirstily drink the embers,
which silently bleed out from its heart.

I greet the plain, how quietly it lies,
the expanse of the mysteriously darkening evening,
through which I, who yearn to go home,
now stride faster and faster!

How my breast swells with joy,
the breezy flock of my songs flits around me,
and I greet the world, this magnificent world!
I greet it, and tomorrow I will see it again!

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: 12
Word count: 87

Translation © by Joel Ayau
3. Am Ufer
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Am Ufer", op. 41 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3 (1899), published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Welt verstummt, dein Blut erklingt;
    in seinen hellen Abgrund sinkt
            der ferne Tag,

er schaudert nicht; die Glut umschlingt
    das höchste Land, im Meere ringt
            die ferne Nacht,

sie zaudert nicht; der Flut entspringt
    ein Sternchen, deine Seele trinkt
            das ewige Licht.

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Confirmed with Weib und Welt. Gedichte von Richard Dehmel mit einem Sinnbild, Berlin: Verlag von Schuster u. Loeffler, 1896, page 25

Note: in stanza 2, line 2, word 4 is "um" in Štěpán's score, probably a misprint.


by Richard Fedor Leopold Dehmel (1863 - 1920)
3. On the shore
Language: English 
The world becomes silent, except for the sound of your blood;
into its bright abyss sinks
the distant day,

without a shudder; the glow embraces
the highest land, in the sea struggles
the distant night.

It does not delay; from the flood springs up
a little star, your soul drinks
the eternal light.

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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2008-12-10
Line count: 9
Word count: 53

Translation © by Joel Ayau
4. Bruder Liederlich
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Bruder Liederlich", op. 41 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4 (1899), published 1899, stanzas 1-3,5-6 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Feder am Sturmhut in Spiel und Gefahren,
      Halli.
Nie lernt' ich im Leben fasten, noch sparen,
      Hallo.
  Der Dirne lass ich die Wege nicht frei;
  Wo Männer sich raufen, da bin ich dabei,
  Und wo sie saufen, da sauf ich für drei.
      Halli und Hallo.

Verdammt, es blieb mir ein Mädchen hängen,
      Halli.
Ich kann sie mir nicht aus dem Herzen zwängen,
      Hallo.
  Ich glaube, sie war erst sechzehn Jahr,
  Trug rote Bänder im schwarzen Haar
  Und plauderte wie der lustigste Staar.
      Halli und Hallo.

Was hatte das Mädel zwei frische Backen,
      Halli.
Krach, konnten die Zähne die Haselnuß knacken,
      Hallo.
  Sie hat mir das Zimmer mit Blumen geschmückt,
  Die wir auf heimlichen Wegen gepflückt;
  Wie hab ich dafür ans Herz sie gedrückt!
      Halli und Hallo.

 ... 

Wir haben süperb uns die Zeit vertrieben,
      Halli.
Ich wollte, wir wären zusammen geblieben,
      Hallo.
  Doch wurde die Sache mir stark ennuyant;
  Ich sagt' ihr, daß mich die Regierung ernannt,
  Kamele zu kaufen in Samarkand.
      Halli und Hallo.

Und als ich zum Abschied die Hand gab der Kleinen,
      Halli.
Da fing sie bitterlich an zu weinen,
      Hallo.
  Was denk ich just heute ohn Unterlaß,
  Daß ich ihr so rauh gab den Reisepaß...
  Wein her, zum Henker, und da liegt Trumpf Aß!
      Halli und Hallo.

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by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
4. Brother Slovenly
Language: English 
A feather on my cap, in play and danger,
Halli.
I've never learned in my life how to fast or save,
Hallo.
For maidens I never step aside on the path;
where men are fighting, there I am;
and where they're drinking, there I am, drinking for three.
Halli and Hallo.

Damn, once I got stuck with a maiden,
Halli.
I can't get her out of my heart,
Hallo.
I think she was just about sixteen,
wore red ribbons in her black hair,
and she chattered like a merry starling.
Halli and Hallo.

What fresh cheeks that maiden had,
Halli.
Crack! could her teeth break hazelnuts,
Hallo.
She decorated my room with flowers,
which we picked on a secret path -
how I pressed her to my heart for that!
Halli and Hallo.

[ ... ]

We passed the time superbly,
Halli.
I wish we had remained together,
Hallo.
But the thing became so utterly boring,
that I told her I'd been named by the government
to sell camels in Samarkand.
Halli and Hallo.

And when I gave the little thing my hand in parting,
Halli.
She started weeping so bitterly,
Hallo.
What I think about constantly, even today,
is how coarsely I gave her those marching orders...
Wine here! - hang it all! - there's the ace of trumps!
Halli and Hallo.

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: 48
Word count: 260

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Leise Lieder
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Leise Lieder", op. 41 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5 (1899), published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise Lieder sing ich dir bei Nacht,
Lieder, die kein sterblich Ohr vernimmt,
Noch ein Stern, der etwa spähend wacht,
Noch der Mond, der still im Äther schwimmt;

Denen niemand als das eigne Herz,
Das sie träumt, in tiefer Wehmut lauscht,
Und an denen niemand als der Schmerz,
Der sie zeugt, sich kummervoll berauscht.

Leise Lieder sing ich dir bei Nacht,
Dir, in deren Aug mein Sinn versank,
Und aus dessen tiefem, dunklen Schacht,
Meine Seele ewige Sehnsucht trank.

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by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
5. Soft songs I sing to you at night
Language: English 
 Soft songs I sing to you at night -
 songs that no mortal ear can detect,
 nor star, peering down and watching,
 nor moon, floating silently in the sky; 
 
 songs that none but one's own heart
 that is dreaming them, listens for in deep sorrow,
 and on which none but the pain
 that has devised them, sorrowfully intoxicates oneself.
 
 Soft songs I sing to you at night,
 to you, in whose eyes my senses immersed themselves,
 and from whose deep, dark well
 my soul drank eternal longing.

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: 87

Translation © by Emily Ezust