English translations of Heine-Lieder (1904-1906), opus 1

by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943)

1. Leise zieht durch mein Gemüt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Leise zieht durch mein Gemüt", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 1, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

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

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg, Lachner: "Zieh"
3 Behrens, Gade, Grieg, Lachner, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. 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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Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas
2. Die schlanke Wasserlilie  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Die schlanke Wasserlilie", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 2, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Die schlanke Wasserlilie
Schaut träumend empor aus dem See;
Da grüßt der Mond herunter
Mit lichtem Liebesweh.

  Verschämt senkt sie [das]1 Köpfchen
Wieder [hinab]2 zu den Welln --
Da sieht sie zu ihren Füßen
Den armen [blassen]3 Geselln.

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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 244

1 Pfitzner: "ihr"
2 Pfitzner: "zurück"
3 omitted by Pfitzner

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. The slender waterlily
Language: English 
The slender waterlily
Gazed dreaming up out of the lake.
The moon greeted her from above
With bright love plaints.

Shyly she lowers her little head
Down to the waters again --
There she sees at her feet
That poor pale fellow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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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Word count: 41

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
3. Es war ein alter König  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Es war ein alter König", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 3, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein [Haupt]1 war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein [schöner]2 Page,
blond war sein [Haupt]3, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die [seid'ne]4 Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von H. Heine, Zweite Auflage, Hamburg, bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 28.

1 Diepenbrock: "Haar"
2 Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Zemlinsky: "junger"
3 Wolfrum: "Haar"
4 Goldschmidt: "seidene"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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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Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Morgens send' ich dir  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Morgens send' ich dir", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 4, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Morgens send ich dir die Veilchen,
Die ich früh im Wald gefunden,
Und des Abends bring ich Rosen,
Die ich brach in Dämmrungstunden.

Weißt du, was die hübschen Blumen
Dir Verblümtes sagen möchten?
Treu sein sollst du mir am Tage
Und mich lieben in den Nächten.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4.
[Translation not yet available]
5. Ich will meine Seele  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Ich will meine Seele", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 5, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich will meine Seele tauchen
In den Kelch der Lilie hinein;
Die Lilie soll [klingend]1 hauchen
Ein Lied von der Liebsten mein.

Das Lied soll [schauern]2 und beben
Wie der Kuß von ihrem Mund,
Den sie mir einst gegeben
In wunderbar süßer Stund'.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 115.

1 Raif: "klingen und"
2 Raif: "schau'rn"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. I want to delve my soul
Language: English 
I want to delve my soul
Into the cup of the lily;
The lily should give resoundingly
A song belonging to my beloved.

The song should shudder and tremble
Like the kiss from her lips
That she once gave me
In a wonderfully sweet hour.

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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Word count: 45

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
6. Sie haben dir viel erzählet  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Sie haben dir viel erzählet", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 6, published 1911?
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie haben dir viel erzählet
Und haben viel geklagt;
Doch was meine Seele gequälet;
Das haben sie nicht gesagt.

Sie machten ein großes Wesen
Und schüttelten kläglich das Haupt;
Sie nannten mich den Bösen,
Und du hast alles geglaubt.

Jedoch das Allerschlimmste,
Das haben sie nicht gewußt;
Das Schlimmste und das Dümmste,
Das trug ich geheim in der Brust.

Das Schlimmste, du Glaubensvolle,
Das Dümmste, du gläubiges Kind,
Das war die Liebe, die tolle,
Die toll mich machte und blind.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 130.

Note: the fourth stanza was not present in the first editions.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6.
[Translation not yet available]
7. Am Kreuzweg wird begraben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Oskar Guttmann (1885 - 1943), "Am Kreuzweg wird begraben", op. 1 (Heine-Lieder (1904-1906)) no. 7, published 1911? [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Kreuzweg wird begraben
Wer selber sich brachte um;
[Dort]1 wächst eine blaue Blume,
Die [Armesünderblum']2.

Am Kreuzweg [stand]3 ich und seufzte;
Die Nacht war kalt und stumm.
Im Mondschein bewegte sich langsam
Die [Armesünderblum']2.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 166.

1 Griffes: "Da"
2 Cahn-Speyer: "Armensünderblum' "
3 White: "sass"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
7.
Language: English 
At the crossroads he was buried,
the one who took his own life.
A blue flower grows there,
the Woeful-sinner's-bloom.
 
At the crossroads I stood sighing;
the night was cold and still.
The Woeful-sinner's-bloom
slowly stirred in the moonlight.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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: 2012-02-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin