English translations of Zwei Lieder, opus 17

by (Carl Theodor) Oskar Ulmer (1883 - 1966)

1. Eingelegte Ruder  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Carl Theodor) Oskar Ulmer (1883 - 1966), "Eingelegte Ruder", op. 17 (Zwei Lieder) no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Meine eingelegten Ruder triefen,
Tropfen fallen langsam in die Tiefen. 

Nichts, daß mich verdroß! Nichts, daß mich freute!
Niederrinnt ein schmerzenloses Heute!

Unter mir - ach, aus dem Licht verschwunden -
Träumen schon die schönern meiner Stunden.

Aus der blauen Tiefe ruft das Gestern:
Sind im Licht noch manche meiner Schwestern?

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by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
1. Soaking oars
Language: English 
My soaking oars drip;
drops fall slowly into the depths.

There was nothing to irritate me!
There was nothing to delight me!
A painless Today is running down.

Below me - alas! vanished from the light -
the fairest of my hours already dream.

From the blue depths, Yesterday calls:
"Are my many sisters still in the light?"

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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Line count: 9
Word count: 56

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Requiem  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Carl Theodor) Oskar Ulmer (1883 - 1966), "Requiem", op. 17 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bei der Abendsonne Wandern,
[Wann]1 ein Dorf den Strahl verlor,
Klagt [sein Dunkeln es den]2 andern
Mit vertrauten Tönen vor.

„Viele Schläge, viele Schläge
Thut an einem Tag das Herz,
Wenig Schläge, wenig Schläge
Thut im Dämmerlicht das Erz!“

Noch ein Glöcklein hat geschwiegen
Auf der Höhe bis zuletzt.
Nun beginnt es sich zu wiegen,
Horch, mein Kilchberg läutet jetzt!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, Verlag von H. Haessel, Leipzig, 1882, page 55.

1 Stöhr: "Wenn"
2 Stöhr: "ein Dunkeln es dem"

by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898)
2. Requiem
Language: English 
At the wandering of the evening sun,
When a village has lost the sunbeam,
[It laments its darkening to the others]1
With familiar tolling tones.

"Many beats, many beats
Are made by the heart in a day,
Few strokes, few strokes
Are made by the bronze [bells] in the twilight!"

One more little bell had remained silent
Upon the heights until the end.
Now it begins to sway,
Hark, my Kilchberg is now ringing!”

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Stöhr: "One darkening laments it to another"


This text was added to the website: 2022-02-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Sharon Krebs