English translations of Fünf Lieder, opus 1

by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925)

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1. Der Schmied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925), "Der Schmied", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder) no. 1, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hör' meinen Schatz,
Den Hammer er schwinget,
Das rauschet, das klinget,
Das dringt in die Weite,
Wie Glockengeläute,
Durch Gassen und Platz.

Am schwarzen Kamin,
Da [sitzet]1 mein Lieber,
[Doch]2 geh' ich vorüber,
Die Bälge dann sausen,
Die Flammen aufbrausen
Und lodern um ihn.

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Confirmed with: Uhlands Werke in drei Teilen, Erster Teil. Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year given], page 37.

1 Randhartinger: "stehet"
2 Randhartinger: "Da"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1. I hear my sweetheart
Language: English 
I hear my sweetheart -
The hammer he swings -
The rustling, the clinking,
Comes to me from afar,
Like the sound of bells,
Through streets and squares.

By the black fireplace
There my lover sits;
But if I pass by,
The bellows then whistle,
And the flames roar
And glow around him.

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: 12
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Nicht sing ich Lieder laut und hell  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925), "Nicht sing ich Lieder laut und hell", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder) no. 2, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nicht sing' ich Lieder laut und hell, 
Mein Lieb, weil wir belauscht; 
Du aber fühlst den Liederquell, 
Der mir im Herzen rauscht. 
Und jeder Tropfen, der da quillt, 
Ist Wonne, Lieb und Lust,
Die fluthend all' hinüberschwillt 
Mein Lieb in Deine Brust.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Peter Cornelius, Eingeleitet von Adolf Stern, Leipzig: C.F. Kahnt Nachfolger, 1890, page 99.


by Peter Cornelius (1824 - 1874)
2. I do not sing songs loudly and brightly
Language: English 
I do not sing songs loudly and brightly,
My love, because we are being eavesdropped on;
But you feel the wellspring of songs
That surges in my heart.
And every drop that wells up there
Is bliss, love and joy,
And in a flood all of them, my love,
Flow over into your bosom.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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: 2023-10-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 54

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Vor deinem Fenster  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925), "Vor deinem Fenster", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder) no. 3, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vor deinem Fenster die Ranken
Wiegen sich leise im Wind,
Sie wehen, winken und wanken --
Das sind meine armen Gedanken
Die zu dir gekommen sind.

Du willst von ihnen nichts wissen,
Schließest im Trotze dein Haus,
Du wühlst den Kopf in die Kissen
Und horchst doch, von Sehnsucht zerrissen,
Mit fiebernden Pulsen hinaus!

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Confirmed with Anna Ritter, Befreiung. Neue Gedichte, Fünfte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1900, page 91.


by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
3. In front of your window
Language: English 
In front of your window, the vines
Move softly in the wind,
They blow, beckon and undulate --
Those are my poor thoughts
That have come to you.

You wish to know nothing about them,
In defiance you lock up your house,
You burrow your head into your pillows
But nevertheless, torn by yearning, 
You harken out with feverish pulse!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 2024-01-03
Line count: 10
Word count: 59

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Über den Bergen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925), "Über den Bergen", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder) no. 4, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über den Bergen, weit zu wandern, 
Sagen die Leute, wohnt das Glück.
Ach, und ich ging im [Schwarme]1 der andern,
kam mit verweinten [Augen]2 zurück.
[Über]3 den Bergen, weit, weit drüben, 
Sagen die Leute, wohnt das Glück.

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Note: in Greger's song, line 2 word 4 ("wohnt") becomes "wohnet" in the repeat.

1 Marx: "Kreis"
2 Marx: "Aug' "
3 Marx: "Hinter"

by Karl Busse (1872 - 1918)
4. Over the mountains
Language: English 
Over the mountains, far to travel, 
people say, Happiness dwells.
Alas, and I went in the crowd of the others,
and returned with a tear-stained face.
Over the mountains, far to travel, 
people say, Happiness dwells.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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: 6
Word count: 36

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
5. Sieghafte Lust  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodore Spiering (1871 - 1925), "Sieghafte Lust", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder) no. 5, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In deinem Arm, an deinem Herzen --
O sag', was hat die Erde noch?
Und brächte sie mir tausend Schmerzen
Nach diesem Tag, ich jauchzte doch!

Und gilt es, durch die Dunkelheiten
Der letzten, großen Nacht zu gehn:
Der Schimmer dieser Seligkeiten
Wird leuchtend überm Wege stehn!

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Confirmed with Anna Ritter, Befreiung. Neue Gedichte, Fünfte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1900, page 10.


by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921)
5. Victorious Joy
Language: English 
In your arms, upon your heart --
Oh tell me, what else could earth offer?
And if it brought me a thousand pains
After this day, I would nevertheless rejoice!

And if it meant to walk through 
The darknesses of the last, great night:
The shimmer of these felicities
Would stand shining over my path!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2023-11-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 54

Translation © by Sharon Krebs