English translations of Neun deutsche Lieder, opus 37

by Christian Wilhelm Häser (1781 - 1867)

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1. Herz und Uhr
 (Sung text)
by Christian Wilhelm Häser (1781 - 1867), "Herz und Uhr", op. 37 (Neun deutsche Lieder) no. 6 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich kam vom stillen Friedhof
Von meiner stillen Braut;
Ich sehnte mich auf mein Stübchen;
Es war auf der Gasse so laut.

Im Stübchen da ist's ruhig;
Zwei Wesen regen sich nur:
Das ist der Schlag des Herzens,
Das ist der Schlag der Uhr.

Sie schlagen beide matter,
Die Uhr und auch das Herz;
Die Uhr ist stehen geblieben.
Warum nicht auch das Herz?

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by Rädern
1. Heart and clock
Language: English 
I came from the silent cemetery
From my silent bride;
I yearned to be in my chamber;
It was so loud on the street.

It is peaceful in my little chamber;
Only two things are moving:
One is the beating of my heart,
The other is the ticking of the clock.

They both pulse more feebly,
The clock and also my heart;
The clock has stopped.
Why not also my heart?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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: 2013-11-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Nähe der Geliebten Todten  [sung text not yet checked]
possibly by Christian Wilhelm Häser (1781 - 1867), "Nähe der Geliebten Todten", op. 37 (Neun deutsche Lieder) no. 7, note: score gives composer as "Wilhelm Haeser"
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wohl [müßt']1 ich herzlich weinen,
Herz! wärst du wirklich tot,
Und könnt' mich nichts mehr einen
Mit dir in Freud' und Not.

Doch, sieh, seit du gestorben
(Weiß nicht, wie mir geschah),
Hab' ich dich erst erworben,
Herz, bist du erst mir nah.

Nicht Berg' und Tale trennen,
O Herz! mich mehr von dir,
Leis darf ich dich nur nennen,
Da bist du schon bei mir;

Dann legt sich schnell die Welle
Im Herzen stürmischtrüb,
Und in mir wird es helle
Und um mich alles lieb.

Die andern nicht begreifen,
Was Sel'ges [ich ersah]2!
Was die [nicht schauen, greifen]3,
Das ist für sie nicht da.

Die wissen nichts von drüben,
Die wissen nur von hier,
Nicht wie sich Geister lieben,
Doch, Herz! - das wissen wir!

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Confirmed with Kerners Werke, Zweiter Teil, Gedichte, ed. Raimund Pissin, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., 1914, pages 26-27.

1 Haeser: "möcht'"
2 Haeser: "mir geschah"
3 Haeser: "nicht sehn, nicht greifen"

by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
2.
Language: English 
I would [have to]1 weep deeply,
Heart! if you were truly dead,
And if nothing could ever unite me again
With you in joy and suffering.

But see, since you died
(I do not know what happened to me),
Only then did I truly attain you,
Heart, [only since then] are you truly near me.

Not mountains and valleys separate
Me any longer from you, oh heart!
I only have to call out your name quietly,
Then you are already with me;

Then the wave quickly subsides
In my heart that was dreary with storms,
And within me it becomes bright
And everything around me becomes lovely.

The others do not comprehend
What a blissful thing [I see]2!
What they do not see, [grasp]3,
That does not exist for them.

They know nothing of the hereafter,
They only know of here,
[They know] not how spirits love,
But, heart! - that is what we know!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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: 

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Translated titles:
"Nähe des Toten" = "Nearness of the dead one"
"Nähe der Geliebten Todten" = "Nearness of the beloved dead"

1 Haeser: "desire to"
2 Haeser: "happened to me"
3 Haeser: "not grasp"


This text was added to the website: 2013-10-14
Line count: 24
Word count: 158

Translation © by Sharon Krebs