English translations of Sechs Lieder von H. Heine, opus 1

by Th. Trendelenburg

1. Du schönes Fischermädchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Th. Trendelenburg , "Du schönes Fischermädchen", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder von H. Heine) no. 1, published 1835
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du schönes Fischermädchen,
Treibe den Kahn an's Land;
Komm zu [mir und setze]1 dich nieder,
Wir kosen Hand in Hand.

Leg' an mein Herz dein Köpfchen,
Und [fürchte]2 dich nicht [zu]3 sehr,
[Vertrau'st du dich]4 doch [sorglos]5
Täglich dem wilden Meer.

Mein Herz gleicht ganz dem Meere,
Hat Sturm [und]6 Ebb' und Fluth,
Und manche schöne Perle
In seiner Tiefe ruht.7

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 186; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 12.

First published as number XII of Drei und dreißig Gedichte von H. Heine in Der Gesellschafter oder Blätter für Geist und Herz. Herausgegeben von F. W. Gubitz. Achter Jahrgang. Berlin, 1824. In der Maurerschen Buchhandlung. Sonnabend den 27. März. 50stes Blatt, page 246.

1 Meyerbeer: "mir, setz"; Oechsner: "mir und setz'"
2 Oechsner: "fürcht'"
3 André, Dresel: "so"
4 Dresel: "Trauest du"
5 Mendel: "täglich"
6 Oechsner: "hat"
7 Meyerbeer adds: 
Komm! Komm!
Du schönes Fischermädchen, komm, komm,
Wir kosen Hand in Hand.
Komm! Komm! Komm!

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. You beautiful fishermaiden
Language: English 
You beautiful fishermaiden,
Pull your boat toward shore;
Come to me and sit down,
We will speak of love, hand in hand.

Lay your little head on my heart,
And do not be too frightened;
Indeed, you trust yourself fearlessly
Daily to the wild sea!

My heart is just like the sea,
Having storms and ebb and flow,
And many beautiful pearls
Rest in its depths.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Am Meer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Th. Trendelenburg , "Am Meer", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder von H. Heine) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Meer erglänzte weit hinaus,
Im letzten Abendscheine;
Wir saßen am einsamen Fischerhaus,
Wir saßen stumm und alleine.

Der Nebel stieg, das Wasser schwoll,
Die Möve flog hin und wieder;
Aus deinen Augen, liebevoll,
Fielen die Thränen nieder.

Ich sah sie fallen auf deine Hand,
Und bin auf's Knie gesunken;
Ich hab' von deiner weißen Hand
Die Thränen fortgetrunken.

Seit jener Stunde verzehrt sich mein Leib,
Die Seele stirbt vor Sehnen; -
Mich hat das unglückseel'ge Weib
Vergiftet mit ihren Thränen.

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 193; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 19.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. The sea sparkled out in the distance
Language: English 
 The sea sparkled out in the distance
 By the light of evening's last glow;
 We sat near the solitary fisherman's house,
 We sat mute and alone.

 The fog gathered, the water swelled,
 A seagull flew back and forth;
 From your eyes full of love
 Tears fell down.

 I saw them fall on your hand
 And sank to one knee;
 From out of your white hand
 I drank the tears.

 Since that hour my body consumes itself,
 My soul is dying of longing;
 This wretched woman
 Has poisoned me with her tears.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Du hast Diamanten und Perlen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Th. Trendelenburg , "Du hast Diamanten und Perlen", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder von H. Heine) no. 4, published 1835
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du hast Diamanten und Perlen,
Hast alles, was Menschenbegehr,
Und hast die schönsten Augen -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

Auf deine schönen Augen
Hab ich ein ganzes Heer
Von ewigen Liedern gedichtet -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

Mit deinen schönen Augen
Hast du mich gequält so sehr,
Und hast mich zu Grunde gerichtet -
Mein Liebchen, was willst du mehr?

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. You have diamonds and pearls
Language: English 
 You have diamonds and pearls,
 you have everything that one can desire,
 and you have beautiful eyes - 
 my darling, what more do you wish?
 
 On the subject of your beautiful eyes
 I have composed an entire army
 of eternal songs -
 my darling, what more do you wish?
 
 With your beautiful eyes
 you have tormented me so much,
 and you have demolished me -
 my darling, what more do you wish?

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: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Ich wollt', meine Schmerzen ergössen sich  [sung text not yet checked]
by Th. Trendelenburg , "Ich wollt', meine Schmerzen ergössen sich", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder von H. Heine) no. 5, published 1835
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wollt, meine [Schmerzen ergössen]1
Sich all in ein [einziges]2 Wort,
Das gäb ich den [lustigen]3 Winden,
Die trügen es lustig fort.

Sie tragen zu dir, Geliebte,
Das [schmerzerfüllte]4 Wort;
Du hörst es zu jeder Stunde,
Du hörst es an jedem Ort.

Und hast du zum nächtlichen Schlummer
Geschlossen die Augen kaum,
So wird [dich mein Wort]5 verfolgen
Bis in den tiefsten Traum.

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Note: in Zenger's score, the first time we reach stanza 1, line 2, word 5, it is "einzig", and "einziges" in the repetition.

1 Mendelssohn: "Lieb' ergösse" (love would flow)
2 Mendelssohn: "einzig"
3 Mendelssohn: "lust'gen"; Zenger: "luftigen" (airy)
4 Mendelssohn: "lieb-erfüllte" (love-filled)
5 Mendelssohn: "mein Bild dich"; Zenger: "dich mein Auge"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. I wish my pain would flow into a single word
Language: English 
I wish my [pain]1 would flow
Into a single word,
Which I'd give to the [merry]2 winds,
Who would carry it merrily along.

They would carry it to you, my beloved, 
The [pain-filled]3 word;
You hear it always,
You hear it everywhere.

And scarcely have you closed your eyes 
To night-time slumbers,
My [word]4 will follow you,
Into your deepest dream.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Siân Goldthorpe and Christian Stein, (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 Mendelssohn: "love"
2 or "airy" (for "luft'gen")
3 Mendelssohn: "love-filled"
4 Mendelssohn: "image"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Siân Goldthorpe, Christian Stein
5. Was will die einsame Träne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Th. Trendelenburg , "Was will die einsame Träne", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder von H. Heine) no. 6, published 1835
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was will die einsame Thräne?
Sie trübt mir ja den Blick.
Sie blieb aus alten Zeiten
In meinem Auge zurück.

Sie [hatte]1 viel' leuchtende Schwestern,
Die alle zerflossen sind,
Mit meinen Qualen und Freuden,
Zerflossen in Nacht und Wind.

Wie Nebel sind auch zerflossen
Die blauen Sternelein,
Die mir [jene]2 Freuden und Qualen
Gelächelt ins Herz hinein.

Ach, meine Liebe selber
Zerfloß wie eitel Hauch!
Du alte, einsame Thräne,
Zerfließe jetzunder auch!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Sechsundfünfzigste Auflage (56th edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1887, page 147. Note: in this edition, the poem is number 29.

Modern German would change "Thräne" to "Träne".

1 Franz: "hat"
2 Cornelius: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. What does this solitary tear mean?
Language: English 
 What does this solitary tear mean?
 - it so blurs my gaze.
 It has lingered since long ago
 behind my eye.
 
 It had several shining sisters,
 which have all flown away
 with my agonies and joys,
 flown away in night and wind.
 
 Like mist have also faded away
 the blue little stars
 through which my joys and agonies
 were smiled into my heart.
 
 Alas, my love itself
 has vanished, like a vain breath!
 You old, lonely tear,
 flow down then and be gone!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust