English translations of Drei Lieder für Männerchor, opus 11

by Felix von Woyrsch (1860 - 1944)

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1. Mit Lust thät ich ausreiten  [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix von Woyrsch (1860 - 1944), "Mit Lust thät ich ausreiten", op. 11 (Drei Lieder für Männerchor) no. 1, published 1886 [ men's chorus (TTBarBB) a cappella ], Hamburg, Cranz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit Lust tät ich ausreiten
durch einen grünen Wald,
Darin da hört ich singen,
drei Vögelein wohlgestalt.

So sein es nit drei Vögelein,
es sein drei Fräulein fein.
Soll mir das ein nit werden,
so gilt es das Leben mein.

Das erste heißet Ursulein,
Das andre Bärbelein
Das dritt hat keinen Namen,
Das soll des Jägers sein.

Er nahm sie bei den Händen,
Bei ihrer schneeweißen Hand,
Er führts des Walds ein Ende,
Da er ein Hüttlein fand.

Da lagens beieinander
bis in die dritte Stund'.
"Kehr' dich, schön's Lieb, herumb,
beut mir dein'n roten Mund!"

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1.
Language: English 
With joy, I went riding
through a green wood,
In it I heard singing,
three shapely little birds.

But it wasn’t three little birds,
it was three fine young ladies.
Should one of them not become mine,
it will cost me my life.

The first was called Uschi,
The next Barbie
The third had no name,
She shall be the huntsman’s.

He took her by the hands,
By her snow-white hand,
He led her to the edge of the wood,
Where he found a cottage.

There they lay together
for three hours.
“Turn back, beautiful lover, hurry,
your red mouth is my plunder!”

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Laura Prichard, (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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Titles in translation
"Drei Vögelein" = "Three little birds"
"Mit Lust tät ich ausreiten" = "With joy I went riding"

Note: Uschi is a diminutive form of the name Ursula.


This text was added to the website: 2018-03-14
Line count: 20
Word count: 103

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Ich schwing mein Horn  [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix von Woyrsch (1860 - 1944), "Ich schwing mein Horn", op. 11 (Drei Lieder für Männerchor) no. 2, published 1886 [ men's chorus (BarBB) a cappella ], Hamburg, Cranz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich schwing mein Horn ins Jammertal,
Mein Freud ist mir verschwunden,
Ich hab gejagt, muß abelahn,
Das Wild lauft vor den Hunden,
Ein edel Tier in diesem Feld
Hätt ich mir auserkohren,
Das schied von mir als ich es meld,
Mein Jagen ist verloren. 

Fahr hin, Gewild, in Waldes-Lust,
Ich will dich nimmer schrecken,
Und Jagen dein schneeweisse Brust,
Ein ander muß dich wecken,
Mit Jagdgeschrei, und Hundebiß,
Daß du kaum mögst entrinnen:
Halt dich in Hut, schöns Maidlein gut,
Mit Leid scheid ich von hinnen.

Kein Hochgewild ich fahen kann,
Das muß ich oft entgelten;
Noch halt ich stets auf Jägers-Bahn,
Wiewohl mir Glück kommt selten:
Mag ich nicht han ein Hochwild schön,
So laß ich mich begnügen,
Am Hasenfleisch, nichts mehr ich weiß,
Das mag mich nicht betrügen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. I blow my horn
Language: English 
I blow my horn into the vale of tears:
My joy has vanished.
I have hunted, but I must cease
For the deer runs beyond the hounds.
A noble beast in this field
I had selected;
It has fled me, as I sense well.
My hunt is lost.

Farewell, deer, find joy in the forest!
I will never frighten 
your snow-white breast with my hunting;
It is for another to awaken you
With hunter's calls and snapping hounds,
That you may not outrun:
Beware, my little beast!
With sorrow I bid this place adieu.

I cannot capture any noble game,
For which I often suffer,
Yet I constantly follow the hunter's paths,
and seldom does luck come to me.
If I am not honored with a noble deer,
Then let me be satisfied
With a hare; nothing more do I demand,
And it will not trouble 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 147

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Ich reit' in's finstre Land hinein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix von Woyrsch (1860 - 1944), "Ich reit' in's finstre Land hinein", op. 11 (Drei Lieder für Männerchor) no. 3, published 1886 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Hamburg, Cranz
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich reit' ins finstre Land hinein, 
Nicht Mond noch Sterne geben Schein, 
Die kalten Winde tosen. 
Oft hab' ich diesen Weg gemacht, 
Wann goldner Sonnenschein gelacht, 
[Bei]1 lauer Lüfte Kosen.

Ich reit' am finstern Garten hin, 
Die dürren Bäume sausen drin, 
Die welken Blätter fallen. 
Hier pflegt' ich in der Rosenzeit, 
Wann alles sich der Liebe weiht, 
Mit meinem Lieb zu wallen.

Erloschen ist der Sonne Strahl, 
Verwelkt die Rosen allzumal, 
Mein Lieb zu Grab' getragen. 
Ich reit' ins finstre Land hinein 
Im Wintersturm, ohn' allen Schein, 
Den Mantel umgeschlagen.

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1 Zenger: "Und"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. I am riding into the dark land
Language: English 
I am riding into the dark land,
Neither moon nor stars offer any light,
The cold winds are roaring.
I have often taken this track
When golden sunlight was smiling down,
With the caress of gentle breezes.

I am riding towards the dark garden,
The barren trees are rustling within it,
The faded leaves are falling.
Here I busied myself at the time of roses,
When everything was dedicated to love,
Spending time with my love.

The sun's beams have been extinguished,
Every one of the roses has withered,
My love has been carried to the grave.
I am riding into the dark land,
In the winter storm, without any light,
With my coat turned up.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Malcolm Wren, (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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Translations of title(s):
"Die Nachtreise" = "Journey at night"
"Ich reit' in's finstre Land hinein" = "I am riding into the dark land"
"Nachtlied" = "Night song"
"Nachtreise" = "Journey at night"
"Nachtritt" = "Riding at night"



This text was added to the website: 2020-04-20
Line count: 18
Word count: 116

Translation © by Malcolm Wren