English translations of Lieder nach Hermann Hesse, opus 22

by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959)

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1. Im Grase hingestreckt
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Im Grase hingestreckt", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 1, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Grase hingestreckt
Lausch ich der Halme zartem Wald,
Der flüstert wirr und hat mir bald
Den Himmel fast verdeckt.

Es kommt die Zeit heran,
Da weiß ich nichts von Leide mehr
Und schmerzt es heute noch so sehr,
Alsdann ist es vertan.

Dann kreist mein heißes Blut
Gekühlt und licht in Halm und Klee,
Und dieser Stunde grimmes Weh
Ist still, ist kühl, ist gut.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Im Grase hingestreckt", written 1914

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 153.


by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
1. Stretched out in the grass
Language: English 
Stretched out in the grass
I listen to the delicate forest of the grass blades,
It whispers confusedly and has soon
Almost blocked out the sky for me.

The time is coming,
Then I shall know nothing more of sorrow
And even if it pains me so much today,
[When that time comes] it shall be dissipated.

Then my hot blood shall circulate,
Cooled and brightly in grass blades and clover,
And the grim pain of this hour
Shall be still, shall be cooled, shall be put right.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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: 2014-01-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Böse Zeit
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Böse Zeit", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 2, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun sind wir still 
Und singen keine Lieder mehr. 
Der Schritt wird schwer. 
Das ist die Nacht, die kommen will. 

Gib mir die Hand, 
Vielleicht ist unser Weg noch weit. 
Es schneit, es schneit. 
Hart ist der Winter in dem fremden Land. 

Wo ist die Zeit 
Da uns ein Licht, ein Herd gebrannt? 
Gib mir die Hand, 
Vielleicht ist unser Weg noch weit.

Text Authorship:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 182.


by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
2. Bad times
Language: English 
Now we are silent
And sing no more songs.
Our steps grow heavy.
That is the night that wishes to approach.

Give me your hand,
Perhaps our way is still long.
It is snowing, it is snowing.
Winter is hard in this foreign land.

Where are the times
When for us a light, a hearth burned?
Give me your hand,
Perhaps our way is still long.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-04-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Oktober
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Oktober", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 3, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In ihrem schönsten Kleide
Stehn alle Bäume gelb und rot,
Sie sterben einen leichten Tod,
Sie wissen nichts von Leide.

Herbst, kühle mir das heiße Herz,
Daß es gelinder schlage
Und still durch goldene Tage
Hinüberspiele winterwärts.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Oktober", subtitle: "(1908)", written 1908

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
3. October
Language: English 
In their [most beautiful]1 garment
All the trees stand yellow and red,
They die an easy death,
They know nothing of suffering.

Autumn, cool my heated heart
That it may beat more gently
And quietly through golden days
Play its way towards winter.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Ruck: " beautiful"


This text was added to the website: 2018-11-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Im Nebel
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Im Nebel", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 4, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Einsam ist jeder Busch und Stein,
Kein Baum sieht den andern,
Jeder ist allein.

Voll Freunden war mir die Welt,
Als noch mein Leben licht war;
Nun, da der Nebel fällt,
Ist keiner mehr sichtbar.

Wahrlich, keiner ist weise,
Der nicht das Dunkel kennt,
Das unentrinnbar und leise
Von allen ihn trennt.

Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern!
Leben ist Einsamsein.
Kein Mensch kennt den andern,
Jeder ist allein.

Text Authorship:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
4. In the mists
Language: English 
Wondrous to wander through mists!
Parted are bush and stone:
None to the other exists,
Each stands alone.

Many my friends came calling
then, when I lived in the light;
Now that the fogs are falling,
None is in sight.

Truly, only the sages
Fathom the darkness to fall,
Which, as silent as cages,
Separates all.

Strange to walk in the mists!
Life has to solitude grown.
None for the other exists:
Each is alone.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Walter A. Aue, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Walter A. Aue.  Contact: waue (AT) dal (DOT) ca

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This text was added to the website: 2010-03-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 75

Translation © by Walter A. Aue
5. Drüben
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Drüben", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 5, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Drüben überm Berge
Streut sein Licht der fahle Mond,
Dort in ewiger Mondesnacht
Meine tote Jugend wohnt.

Drüben überm Berge
Bei dem Grab der Königin
Geht verhärmt im Geisterschritt
Meine tote Liebe hin.

Drüben überm Berge
Wo die kühlen Tempel sind,
Schluchzt vor meinen toten Göttern
Ein verirrt Gebet im Wind.

Text Authorship:

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
5. Yonder
Language: English 
Yonder over the mountain
The wan moon strews its light,
There in eternal moonlit night
My dead youth lives.

Yonder over the mountain
By the grave of the queen,
Haggardly in ghostly pacing,
My dead love wanders.

Yonder over the mountain
Where the cold temples are,
Before my dead gods
A lost prayer sobs in the wind.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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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Translations of title(s):
"Drüben überm Berge streut sein Licht der fahle Mond" = "Yonder over the mountain the wan moon strews its light"
"Drüben" = "Yonder"



This text was added to the website: 2018-03-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 57

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Die leise Wolke
 (Sung text)
by Egon Kornauth (1891 - 1959), "Die leise Wolke", op. 22 (Lieder nach Hermann Hesse) no. 6, published 1920 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Eine schmale, weiße
Eine sanfte, leise
Wolke weht im Blauen hin.
Senke Deinen Blick und fühle
Selig sie mit weißer Kühle
Dir durch blaue Träume ziehn.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 56.


by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
6. The quiet cloud
Language: English 
A slender, white
A gentle, quiet
Cloud wafts about in the blueness.
Lower your gaze and feel
[The cloud] with white coolness
Blissfully pass through your blue dreams.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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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This text was added to the website: 2017-10-25
Line count: 6
Word count: 28

Translation © by Sharon Krebs