English translations of Acht Gitarrenlieder, opus 24

Ich möchte still nach Hause gehn
Und nimmer wieder fort,
Mein Knabenstübchen wiedersehn
Und manchen andern lieben Ort,
In meines Vaters Garten
Wie einst den Lenz erwarten --
O wär', o wär' ich dort!

Vor meinem Fenster steht ein Baum,
Der ist nun lange leer.
Den blauen Himmel sieht er kaum
Von grauen Wänden rings umher.
Bald ist der Baum erstorben,
Bald bin ich hier verdorben,
Seh' nie die Heimat mehr!

I would like to return home quietly
And never go away again,
[Would like] to see my boyhood room 
And many another dear place;
In my father’s garden [I would like]
To await spring as I once did --
Oh were, oh were I there!

In front of my window stands a tree,
It has long been devoid of leaves.
It can hardly see the blue sky
Because of all the grey walls round about.
Soon the tree shall have died,
Soon I shall have perished here,
[And] never see my homeland again!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Adolf Bartels (1862 - 1945), "In der Fremde"
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This text was added to the website: 2021-09-17
Line count: 14
Word count: 92

Und wieder jagt mich der Reisetrieb,
Und wandern möchte ich von Pol zu Pol;
Drum, liebliches Kind, mein süßes Lieb,
   mein süßes Lieb, leb' wohl!

Nochmals gestützt auf den Wanderstab,
Schau' ich zurück, schau' ich zurück; 
Gar duftige Blüthen fallen herab,
   Und hemmen meinen Blick. 

Nun folg' ich ohne Reiseziel
Der Vögel Flug, der Wolken Zug;
Des Schönen hat die Welt so viel,
   Hat auch für mich genug.

Und trag' ich gleich im leichten Kleid
Kein schimmerndes Gold, kein schimmerndes Gold,
Ist doch manch' Herze, manch herzige Maid
   Dem Wanderburschen hold. 

Und der Vögel Schlag in Luft und Hag,
Das Waldesdunkel, der Sonnenschein, 
Und der klingende, singende Frühlingstag
   Ist Alles mein!

And once again I am [being driven by]1 the urge to travel,
And I would like to wander from pole to pole;
Therefore, lovely child, [many times]2 sweet love,
   [Many times]2 sweet love, farewell!

[Once more, supported by]3 my walking staff,
I gaze back, I gaze back;
[Scented]4 blossoms fall down
   And hamper my gaze.

Without a goal to my journey, I now follow
The flight of the birds, the scudding of the clouds;
The world has so much of beauty,
   It has enough for me as well.

And though in my light garments there is
No shimmering gold, no shimmering gold,
Many a heart, many a [rosy]5 maiden
   Looks favourably upon the wandering lad.

And the sound of the birds in [bush and]6 grove,
The darkness of the forest, the sunshine,
The resounding, singing spring day
   Is [all, all]7 mine!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Leuthold (1827 - 1879), "Wanderlied", appears in Gedichte, in 1. Vermischte Gedichte
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¹ Lafite: "in the grip of"; further changes may exist not shown above.
² Leberl: "my"
³ Leberl: "Leaning again upon"
⁴ Leberl: "Highly scented"
⁵ Leberl: "delightful"
⁶ Leberl: "the air and the"
⁷ Leberl: "all"

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 149

Es liegt etwas auf den Straßen im Land umher,
in Welschland und in Britannien und auch am Meer,
am Rhein, und wo die Scholle der Newa splittert wie das Glas,
es liegt etwas auf den Straßen, ich weiß nicht was!

Ich hab' auf den Straßen verlaufen an die sieben Paare Schuh,
mein Stecken blieb immer derselbe, mein Herz dazu,
ich wanderte sieben Jahre durch Regen und Sonnenlicht,
und die Straßen wußten mein Glück und sie sagten es nicht.

Es pfeift eine Drossel in Juli am Holderstrauch,
und hab' ich Land Elend gefunden, so find' ich Thule auch,
die Drossel weiß meiner Sehnsucht süßesten Keim,
und alle Straßen im Lande sagen: "Holderstrauch heim!"

Something is lying upon the streets all around the land,
in Italy and in Britannia [and]1 along the sea,
along the Rhine, and where the ice floe of the Neva splinters like glass,
something is lying upon the streets, I know not what it is!

I have worn out [seven]2 pairs of shoes upon those streets;
my staff remained ever the same, my heart as well,
for seven years I wandered through rain and sunlight
and the streets knew my fortune and [did]3 not tell it.

A thrush whistles in [Thule]4 upon the hawthorn bush,
and if I found the land of misery, then I shall also find Thule;
the thrush knows the sweetest [rhyme]5 of my yearning,
and all the streets in the land are saying: "Return home!"

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Börries Albrecht Conon August Heinrich, Freiherr von Münchhausen (1874 - 1945), "Straßenlied"
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¹ Leberl: "and also"
² Leberl: "well nigh seven"
³ Leberl: "they did"
⁴ Leberl: "July" (likely a typo)
⁵ Leberl: "burgeoning"

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 134

Es blüht ein schönes Blümchen
Auf unser grünen Au.
Sein Aug' ist wie der Himmel
So heiter und so blau.

Es weiß nicht viel zu reden
Und Alles, was es spricht,
Ist immer nur dasselbe,
Ist nur: Vergißmeinnicht.

Wenn ich zwei Äuglein sehe
So heiter und so blau,
So denk' ich an mein Blümchen
Auf unser grünen Au.

Da kann ich auch nicht reden
Und nur mein Herze spricht,
So bange nur, so leise,
Und nur: Vergißmeinnicht.

[A lovely floweret is blooming]1
Upon our green meadow.
Its eye is as fair and as blue
As the sky.

It does not have much to say,
And everything it speaks
Is always ever the same,
Is only: forget me not.

When I see two little eyes
So bright and so blue,
Then I think of my floweret
Upon our green meadow.

Then I, too, cannot speak
And only my heart speaks,
So anxiously only, so softly,
And only: forget me not.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), "Vergißmeinnicht", written 1835, appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in Kinderleben, in Kindheit
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Translations of title(s):
"Das Vergißmeinnicht" = "The forget-me-not"
"Das Vergissmeinnicht" = "The forget-me-not"
"Es blüht ein schönes Blümchen" = "A lovely floweret is blooming"
"Vergißmeinnicht" = "Forget-me-not"

¹ Fink: "There is a lovely floweret"; further changes may exist not noted above.
² Berger: "A blue floweret is blooming "; further changes may exist not noted above.

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Derweil ich eben lag,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag,
Sang vor dem Fenster auf dem Baum
Ein Schwälblein mir, ich hört' es kaum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag:

"Hör an, was ich dir sag'!
Dein Schätzlein ich verklag':
Derweil ich eben singen tu',
Herzt er ein Lieb in guter Ruh,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag."

O weh! nicht weiter sag'!
O still! nichts hören mag!
Flieg ab von meinem Baum!
-- Ach, Lieb' und Treu' ist wie im Traum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag.

 As I lay sleeping,
 well an hour before daybreak,
 by my window on the tree there sang
 for me a little swallow; I could hardly hear it
 an hour before daybreak.
 
 "Listen well to what I say to you -
 your sweetheart I denounce:
 as I am singing this,
 he is clasping his love in good repose,
 an hour before daybreak."
 
 O woe! say no more!
 O silence! I want to hear no more!
 Fly away, fly away from my tree!
 Alas, love and fidelity are like a dream
 an hour before daybreak!

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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875), "Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag"
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 93

Hätt' es nimmer gedacht,
Daß ein Strom, so heiß,
Im Winter wird
Zu starrem Eis!

Daß ein Ringlein von Gold,
So das Fingerlein schmückt,
Wie ein Mühlstein schwer
Auf die Seele drückt!

Daß nach prangendem Tag
So stürmisch die Nacht,
So krank das Herz! --
Hätt es nimmer gedacht, hätts nimmer gedacht, nie gedacht!

I would never have thought
That [a]1 torrent so ardent
In winter [would turn into]2
Rigid ice!

That a ring made of gold
That adorns the [finger]3
Could press upon the soul
Like a heavy millstone!

That after a resplendent day
The night could be so stormy,
So sick the heart! --
I would never have [thought it]4!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Carl Siebel (1836 - 1868), "Enttäuschung", appears in Dichtungen, in Letzte Gedichte
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Translations of title(s):
"Enttäuschung" = "Disappointment"
"Hätt' es nimmer gedacht" = "I would never have thought it"
"Nimmer gedacht" = "Never thought"

¹ Gänsbacher: "the"
² Leberl: "turns into"
³ Leberl: "little finger"
⁴ Blumenthal, Meyer-Helmund: "thought"

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Mägdlein am Spinnrad wacht 
Einsam traurig Tag und Nacht!
Fern des Bächleins Wasser sprang,
Wind weht leis, die Drossel sang!

Zweiglein man holt im Wald,
Werd' ich geholt nicht auch bald?
Zeit entflieht, 's geht sie das Jahr,
Niemand führt mich zum Altar.

Spinn, spinn! Spinn Tochter mein,
Morgen kommt der Freiersmann! 
Tochter spann, die Thräne rann,
Niemals kam der Freiersmann.

The maiden keeps watch at the spinning wheel,
Solitary and sad, day and night!
Far off, the waters of the brooklet leapt,
The wind blew quietly, the thrush sang!

One fetches twigs from the forest,
Shall not I be fetched soon as well?
Time flies fast, [the year passes]1,
No one leads me to the altar.

Spin, spin! Spin, daughter of mine,
Tomorrow [your]2 suitor shall come!
The daughter spun, her tears flowed,
The suitor never came.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , no title
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¹ Leberl: "time passes throughout the year"
² Leberl: "the"

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-08
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

  Laß legen sich die Ungeduld,
Sey stille, Herz, sei stille!
 ... 
  Was schauest du so viel herum,
Und hast so viele Worte?
Bald wird doch Alles still und stumm 
An einer stillen Pforte.
  Wir werden Alle stumm und still 
In unsre Gräber ziehen, 
Ob Einer sich dort regen will,
Vergeblich ist sein Mühen.
  Laß scheiden, Herz, die Ungeduld,
Zur Ruhe mußt du kommen, 
Und wirf dich in die Vaterhuld, 
Einzig das bringt dir Frommen.
 ... 
  Drum sey nur stille, Herz, sei still,
Es legen sich die Wellen;
Der Alles hat und geben will,
Wird deine Nacht erfüllen.

  Let impatience subside,
Be still, [my] heart, [only]1 still!
[ ... ]
  Why do you gaze about so much,
And make so many words?
Soon everything shall become quiet and mute in any case
At a [dark]2 gateway.
  We all, mute and silent, shall
Pass into our graves,
And if someone wishes to move there,
His efforts are in vain.
  Let go, heart, of impatience,
You must come to rest,
And cast yourself into the Father's benevolence,
[Which]3 alone can bring you benefit.
[ ... ]
  Therefore only be still, [my] heart, be still,
[Soon the]4 waves shall subside;
He who has and wishes to give us everything,
Shall [brighten]5 your night.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817), "An das Herz"
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¹ Leberl: "be"
² Leberl: "silent"
³ Leberl: "It"
⁴ Leberl: "The"
⁵ Leberl: "fill" (likely a typo)

This text was added to the website: 2021-09-08
Line count: 28
Word count: 173