English translations of 5 Lieder, opus 19

by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907)

1. Die Kleine
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Die Kleine", op. 19 (5 Lieder) no. 1, published >>1900
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwischen Bergen, liebe Mutter,
Weit den Wald entlang,
Reiten da drei junge Jäger
Auf drei Rösslein blank,
         lieb' Mutter,
Auf drei Rößlein blank.

Ihr könnt fröhlich sein, lieb' Mutter,
Wird es draußen still:
Kommt der Vater heim vom Walde,
Küßt Euch, wie er will,
         lieb' Mutter,
Küßt Euch, wie er will.

Und ich werfe mich im Bettchen
Nachts ohn' Unterlaß,
Kehr' mich links und kehr' mich rechts hin,
Nirgends hab' ich was,
         lieb' Mutter,
Nirgends hab' ich was.

Bin ich eine Frau erst einmal,
In der Nacht dann still
Wend' ich mich nach allen Seiten,
Küß, soviel ich will,
         lieb' Mutter,
Küß, soviel ich will.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. The little girl
Language: English 
Between the mountains, dear mother,
Far along the forest,
Three young huntsmen are riding
On three shining horses,
      dear mother!
On three shining horses.

You can be happy, dear mother,
When it becomes quiet outdoors;
Father comes home from the forest
[And] you can kiss each other as much as you want,
      dear mother!
You can kiss each other as much as you want,

[And I toss about
In my little bed at night without end,
I turn to left and I turn to right
Nowhere do I have anything,
     dear mother. 
Nowhere do I have anything.

When I am finally a woman
In the quiet night then
I will turn to all sides
And kiss as much as I want to,
     dear mother. 
And kiss as much as I want to.]1

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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 Holstein's version would be translated as follows (also by Sharon Krebs): 
In my heart a curious anxiety
Throbs without ceasing,
Often with fervent tears of yearning
My pillow becomes wet,
        dear mother,
My pillow becomes wet.
 
When I am finally a woman
[And] it grows quiet outdoors,
I shall hold my beloved embraced,
[And] kiss as much as I want to,
        dear mother,
[And] kiss as much as I want to.


This text was added to the website: 2008-09-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Sommermittag
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Sommermittag", op. 19 (5 Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun ist es still um Hof und Scheuer,
Und in der Mühle ruht der Stein;
Der Birnenbaum mit blanken Blättern
Steht regungslos im Sonnenschein.

Die Bienen summen so verschlafen;
Und in der offnen Bodenluk',
Benebelt von dem Duft des Heues,
Im grauen Röcklein nickt der Puk.

Der Müller schnarcht und das Gesinde,
Und nur die Tochter wacht im Haus;
Die lachet still und zieht sich heimlich
Fürsichtig die Pantoffeln aus.

Sie geht und weckt den Müllerburschen,
Der kaum den schweren Augen traut:
"Nun küsse mich, verliebter Junge;
Doch sauber, sauber! nicht zu laut."

Text Authorship:

  • by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888), "Sommermittag", written 1854, first published 1854

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by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
2. Summer's noon
Language: English 
Now it is still about the farmyard and barn,
And in the mill the stone is resting;
The pear tree with its shiny leaves
Stands motionless in the sunshine.

The bees are humming so sleepily;
And in the open hatch,
Befuddled by the scent of the hay,
Puck sleeps in his grey coat.

The miller is snoring as are all his minions,
And only the daughter is awake in the house;
She laughs quietly, and secretly,
Prudently takes off her clogs.

She goes and wakes the miller lad,
Who can scarce believe his heavy eyes:
"Now kiss me, you lovestruck boy;
But neatly, neatly! not too loudly."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-07-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 107

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Des Narren Regenlied
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Des Narren Regenlied", op. 19 (5 Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Regenöde, regenöde
Himmel, Land und See;
Alle Lust ist Last geworden,
Und das Herz thut weh.
 
Graugespinstig hält ein Nebel
Alles Sein in Haft,
Weher Mut weint in die Weiten,
Krank ist jede Kraft.
 
Die Prinzessin sitzt im Turme;
Ihre Harfe klingt,
Und ich hör, wie ihre Seele
Müde Sehnsucht singt.
 
Regenöde, regenöde
Himmel, Land und See;
Alle Lust ist Last geworden,
Und das Herz thut weh.

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by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910)
3. The rain-song of the fool
Language: English 
Rain-dreary, rain-dreary
Is sky, land and lake;
Every joy has become a burden,
And the heart aches.

Like a grey gossamer net, a fog
Holds everything imprisoned,
A woeful spirit weeps into the distance,
Every strength has sickened.

The princess sits in her tower;
Her harp is sounding,
And I hear how her soul
Sings weary longing.

Rain-dreary, rain-dreary
Is sky, land and lake;
Every joy has become a burden,
And the heart aches.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-07-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 74

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Frau Nachtigall
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Frau Nachtigall", op. 19 (5 Lieder) no. 4
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nachtigall, ich hör dich singen,
Das Herz möcht' mir im Leib zerspringen,
Komme doch und sag mir bald,
Wie ich mich verhalten soll.

Nachtigall, ich seh dich laufen,
An dem Bächlein tust du saufen,
Du tunkst dein klein Schnäblein ein,
Meinst, es wär' der beste Wein.

Nachtigall, wo ist gut wohnen?
Auf den Linden, in den Kronen,
Bei der schön' Frau Nachtigall:
Grüß mein Schätzchen tausendmal!

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Confirmed with Achim von Arnims Werke, ausgewählt und herausgegeben von Reinhold Steig, Dritter Band, Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1911, page 304
from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
4. Madame Nightingale
Language: English 
Nightingale, I hear you singing,
My heart is about to burst in my body;
Oh come and tell me soon
How I should behave.

Nightingale, I see you running,
At the streamlet you are drinking,
You dip your little beak into [the water],
Deeming it to be the best wine.

Nightingale, where can one live happily?
Upon the linden trees, in the tree-tops,
With the beautiful Madame Nightingale:
Greet my darling a thousand times!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-07-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Spinnerlied
 (Sung text)
by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Spinnerlied", op. 19 (5 Lieder) no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Spinn, spinn, meine liebe Tochter,
Ich kauf dir ein paar Schuh.
Ja, ja, meine liebe Mutter,
Auch Schnallen dazu;
Kann wahrlich nicht spinnen
Von wegen meinem Finger,
Meine Finger thun weh.

Spinn, spinn, meine liebe Tochter,
Ich kauf dir ein Paar Strümpf.
Ja, ja, meine liebe Mutter,
Schön Zwicklen darin;
Kann wahrlich nicht spinnen
Von wegen meinem Finger,
Meine Finger thun weh.

Spinn, spinn, meine liebe Tochter,
Ich kauf dir einen Mann.
Ja, ja, meine liebe Mutter,
Der steht mir wohl an;
Kann wahrlich gut spinnen,
Von all meinen Fingern
Thut keiner mir weh.

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Confirmed with Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Alte deutsche Lieder gesammelt von L. A. v. Arnim und Clemens Brentano, dritter Band, Berlin: Expedition des v. Arnimschen Verlags, 1846, pages 41-42.
from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
5. Spinning Song
Language: English 
Spin, spin, my dear daughter,
I will buy you a pair of shoes.
Yes, yes, my dear mother,
With buckles as well;
But I truly cannot spin
On account of my finger,
My fingers are sore.

Spin, spin, my dear daughter,
I will buy you a pair of stockings.
Yes, yes, my dear mother,
With pretty gussets in them;
But I truly cannot spin
On account of my finger,
My fingers are sore.

Spin, spin, my dear daughter,
I will buy you a husband.
Yes, yes, my dear mother,
That would become me very well;
I can truly spin well,
Of all of my fingers
Not a one is sore.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-07-09
Line count: 21
Word count: 110

Translation © by Sharon Krebs