English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 3

by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909)

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1. Abschied  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Abschied", alternate title: "In der Fremde", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1865 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Es treibt [dich]1 fort von Ort zu Ort,
Du weißt nicht mal warum;
Im Winde klingt ein sanftes Wort,
Schaust dich verwundert um.

  Die Liebe, die dahinten blieb,
Sie ruft dich sanft zurück:
"O komm zurück, ich hab dich lieb,
Du bist mein einz'ges Glück!"

  Doch weiter, weiter, sonder Rast,
Du darfst nicht stille stehn;
Was du so sehr geliebet hast,
Sollst du nicht wiedersehn.

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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 295.

1 Marschner, Mayer: "mich"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
It urges you forth from place to place,
You don’t even know why;
A tender word rings in the breeze,
And you look about in confusion.

The love that remained behind,
Gently calls you back:
“Oh, come back, I love you,
You are my sole happiness!’

Yet onward, onward, without rest,
You cannot remain in one place;
That which you have loved so deeply,
You may never see again.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 2022-06-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Wenn ich in deine Augen seh'", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1865 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich in deine Augen [seh']1,
So schwindet [all' mein Leid]2 und Weh; 
Doch wenn ich küße deinen Mund,
So werd' ich ganz und gar gesund.

Wenn ich mich lehn' an deine Brust,
Kommt's über mich wie Himmelslust;
Doch wenn du sprichst: ich liebe dich!
[So]3 muß ich weinen bitterlich.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 114.

1 Hensel: "sehe"
2 Franz, Dresel: "alles Leid"
3 Wolf: "Dann"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. When I gaze into your eyes
Language: English 
When I gaze into your eyes,
All my pain and woe vanishes;
Yet when I kiss your lips,
I am made wholly and entirely healthy.

When I lay against your breast
It comes over me like longing for heaven;
Yet when you say, "I love you!"
I must cry so bitterly.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. Mondnacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Mondnacht", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1865 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als [hätt']1 der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm [nun]2 träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog [durch]3 die stillen [Lande]4,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

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Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

1 Hutter: "ob"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Brahms, Schumann: "nur"
3 Thuille: "über"
4 Brahms: "Räume"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

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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Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Elfe  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl) Emil Kauffmann (1836 - 1909), "Elfe", op. 3 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1865 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Stuttgart, Zumsteeg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Bleib bei uns! Wir haben den [Tanzplan]1 im Tal 
bedeckt mit [Mondesglanze]2, 
Johanneswürmchen erleuchten den Saal, 
die Heimchen spielen zum Tanze. 

Die Freude, das schöne [leichtgläubige]3 Kind, 
[es]4 wiegt sich in Abendwinden: 
Wo Silber [auf Zweigen und Büschen rinnt,
da wirst]5 du die Schönste finden.

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1 Marx: "Tanzplatz"
2 Stöhr: "Mondenglanze"
3 Marx, Wolff: "leichtgläub'ge"
4 Wolff: "sie"
5 Marx: "über die Zweige rinnt,/ sollst"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Stay with us! We have covered a clearing in the dell
Language: English 
 Stay with us! We have covered a clearing in the dell
 with moonlight for the dance;
 fireflies illuminate the hall
 and crickets are playing dance-music.
 
 Joy, the fair, overcredulous child,
 is lulled by the evening winds;
 where silver runs on branch and bush
 you will find the fairest girl.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 50

Translation © by Emily Ezust