English translations of Sieben Lieder, opus 26

by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878)

1. Altrheinisches Liedchen
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Altrheinisches Liedchen", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 1, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hab die Nacht geträumet
Wohl einen schweren Traum;
Es wuchs in meinem Garten
Ein Rosmarienbaum.

Ein Kirchhof war der Garten,
Ein Blumenbeet das Grab,
Und von den schönen Bäumen
Fiel Kron' und Blüte ab.

Die Blüten tät ich sammeln
In einen goldenen Krug;
Der fiel mir aus den Händen,
Daß er in Stücken schlug.

D'raus sah ich Perlen rinnen
Und Tröpflein rosenrot.
Was mag der Traum bedeuten?
Ach Liebster, bist du tot?

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1.
Language: English 
I dreamed all last night
Such a worrisome dream;
I saw growing in my garden
A rosemary tree.

A church graveyard was the garden,
A flowerbed the grave,
And from the green tree
fell a crown and blossoms.

I collected the blossoms
In a golden jar;
I fell out of my hands,
And [smashed completely to pieces]1.

Around the outside I saw pearls
And rose-red drops.
What could the dream mean?
Ah, Beloved, are you dead?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Stanfield 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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Translator's notes:
Line 2-4: crown (of a tree): braches and foliage from the top of the tree.
Line 4-1: pearls: could also mean pearly drops, like tears or sweat

1 J. van Eijken: "smashed to pieces"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 78

Translation © by Laura Stanfield Prichard
2. Leise zieht durch mein Gemüt
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Leise zieht durch mein Gemüt", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 2, published 1868 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise zieht durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

Kling' hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die Blumen sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas
3. Du bist wie eine Blume
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Du bist wie eine Blume", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 3, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine Blume
So hold und schön und rein;
Ich schau' dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als ob ich die Hände
Aufs Haupt dir legen sollt',
Betend, daß Gott dich erhalte
So rein und schön und hold.

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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 136.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Thou art, as is a flower
Language: English 
Thou art, as is a flower,
so meek and pure and fine,
I look at thee and sadness
steals o'er the heart of mine.

I feel that both my hands softly
thy hair, thy head should seek,
praying that God may preserve thee
so pure and fine and meek.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-08-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. So hast du ganz und gar vergessen
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "So hast du ganz und gar vergessen", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 4, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So hast du ganz und gar vergessen,
Daß ich so lang dein Herz besessen,
Dein Herzchen so süß und so falsch und so klein,
Es kann nirgend was süßres noch falscheres sein.

So hast du die Lieb und das Leid vergessen,
Die das Herz mir täten zusammenpressen.
Ich weiß nicht, war Liebe größer als Leid?
Ich weiß nur, sie waren groß alle beid!

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4.
[Translation not yet available]
5. Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 5, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen,
Liebestränen, schmerzensmild,
Und ich fürchte, dieses Sehnen
Wird am Ende noch erfüllt.

Ach, der Liebe süßes Elend
Und der Liebe bittre Lust
Schleicht sich wieder, himmlisch quälend,
In die kaum genes'ne Brust.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Ah, I yearn for tears
Language: English 
Ah, I yearn for tears,
Tears of love, gently painful,
And I fear that this yearning
Shall in the end be fulfilled.
 
Ah, the sweet misery of love
And the bitter joy of love
Creeps once again with heavenly torture
Into the barely recovered breast.

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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Translated titles:
"Erfüllte Ahnung" = "Fulfilled premonition"
"Sehnen" = "Yearning"
"Ach, ich sehne mich nach Tränen" = "Ah, I yearn for tears"
"Süßes Elend, bitt're Lust" = "Sweet misery, bitter joy"
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"


This text was added to the website: 2015-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 6, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen,  
Da ist in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
7. Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
 (Sung text)
by Anton Deprosse (1838 - 1878), "Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen", op. 26 (Sieben Lieder) no. 7, published 1868
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen
Geh' ich im Garten herum.
Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
Ich aber, ich wandle stumm.

Es flüstern und sprechen die Blumen,
Und schaun mitleidig mich an:
Sei unserer Schwester nicht böse,
Du trauriger blasser Mann.

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Note for stanza 1, line 4: Heine's first version of this poem had "Ich aber wandle stumm."

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
7. On a shining summer morning
Language: English 
On a shining summer morning
I wander around my garden.
The flowers are whispering and speaking;
I, however, wander silently.

The flowers are whispering and speaking
And look at me sympathetically.
"Do not be angry with our sister,
You sad, pale man."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Paul Hindemith