English translations of Drei Lieder von H. Heine, opus 14

by Alexander Campbell MacKenzie, Sir (1847 - 1935)

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1. Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Campbell MacKenzie, Sir (1847 - 1935), "Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst", op. 14 (Drei Lieder von H. Heine) no. 1, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn du mir vorüberwandelst,
Und dein Kleid berührt mich nur,
Jubelt dir mein Herz, und stürmisch
Folgt es deiner schönen Spur.

[Dann]1 drehst du dich um, und schaust mich
Mit den großen Augen an,
[Und mein Herz ist]2 so erschrocken,
Daß es kaum dir folgen kann.

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1 Reissiger: "Doch"
2 Reissiger: "ist mein Herz gleich"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. When you walk past me
Language: English 
When you walk past me,
And your garment only just touches me,
My heart turns to you with rejoicing, and stormily
It follows your beautiful trace.
 
[Then]2 you turn, and gaze at me
With your great eyes,
[And my heart is]2 so startled
That it can scarcely follow you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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 Reissiger: "But if "
2 Reissiger: "My heart is immediately"


This text was added to the website: 2015-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die Wellen blinken und fließen dahin  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Campbell MacKenzie, Sir (1847 - 1935), "Die Wellen blinken und fließen dahin", op. 14 (Drei Lieder von H. Heine) no. 2, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Wellen blinken und fließen dahin,
Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Am Flusse sitzet die Schäferin 
Und windet die zärtlichsten Kränze.

Das knospet und [quillt und duftet und blüht,]1
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Die Schäferin seufzt aus [vollem Gemüt]2:
»Wem geb' ich meine Kränze?«

Ein Reiter reitet den Fluß entlang,
er grüßet so blühenden Mutes,
die Schäferin schaut ihm nach so bang,
fern flattert die Feder des Hutes.

Sie weint und wirft in den gleitenden Fluß
die schönen Blumenkränze.
Die Nachtigall singt von Lieb' und Kuß,
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!

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Note: in later editions, Heine changed "quillt und duftet und blüht" to "quillt, mit duftender Lust" in stanza 2, line 1. In addition, "vollem Gemüt" was changed to "tiefer Brust" in stanza 2, line 3.

1 Stanford: "quillt, mit duftender Lust"
2 Brahms, Stanford: "tiefer Brust"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2.
Language: English 
The waves flash and flow in;
Love is so lovely in Spring!
By the river the shepherdess sits
And weaves delicate crowns of wreaths.

The budding, the [streaming, the wafting, and blossoming]1 -
Love is so lovely in spring!
The shepherdess sighs [with a full heart]2:
"To whom shall I give my wreaths?"

A horseman rides along the river:
he greets her with radiant cheer,
the shepherdess gazes at him shyly,
and far in the distance the feather flutters in his cap.

She weeps and throws into the gliding river
those lovely wreaths of flowers.
The nightingale sings of love and kisses;
Love is so lovely in the spring!

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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1 Stanford: "the streaming, with joyous, wafting fragrances"
2 Brahms, Stanford: "from deep in her bosom"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Es treibt dich fort von Ort zu Ort  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Campbell MacKenzie, Sir (1847 - 1935), "Es treibt dich fort von Ort zu Ort", op. 14 (Drei Lieder von H. Heine) no. 3, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Es treibt [dich]1 fort von Ort zu Ort,
Du weißt nicht mal warum;
Im Winde klingt ein sanftes Wort,
Schaust dich verwundert um.

  Die Liebe, die dahinten blieb,
Sie ruft dich sanft zurück:
"O komm zurück, ich hab dich lieb,
Du bist mein einz'ges Glück!"

  Doch weiter, weiter, sonder Rast,
Du darfst nicht stille stehn;
Was du so sehr geliebet hast,
Sollst du nicht wiedersehn.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 295.

1 Marschner, Mayer: "mich"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3.
Language: English 
It urges you forth from place to place,
You don’t even know why;
A tender word rings in the breeze,
And you look about in confusion.

The love that remained behind,
Gently calls you back:
“Oh, come back, I love you,
You are my sole happiness!’

Yet onward, onward, without rest,
You cannot remain in one place;
That which you have loved so deeply,
You may never see again.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-06-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall