English translations of Acht Gesänge, opus 9

by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891)

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1. Der träumende See  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Der träumende See", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 1, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der See [ruht]1 tief im [blauen]2 Traum
Von Wasserblumen zugedeckt;
Ihr Vöglein hoch im [Fichtenbaum]3,
Daß ihr [mir]4 nicht den Schläfer weckt!

Doch leise weht das Schilf und wiegt 
Das Haupt mit leichtem Sinn;
Ein blauer Falter aber fliegt
Darüber einsam hin!

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Confirmed with Sämmtliche Werke von Julius Mosen, Sechster Band, Leipzig, Verlag von Wilhelm Friedrich, 1880, page 164.

1 H. Bach (as Molbe): "liegt"; further changes may exist not noted.
2 Wallnöfer: "blauem"
3 Fibich: "Eichenbaum"
4 Wallnöfer: "nun"

by Julius Mosen (1803 - 1867)
1.
Language: English 
The lake [is at rest]1 deep in a blue dream
covered by water lilies;
You, little bird high in the [spruce tree]2,
Don't wake the sleeper!

But the reeds quietly blow and balance 
Their tops with easy sense;
But a blue moth flies
Over [them], alone, towards [them].

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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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Translation of title "Der träumende See" = "The dreaming lake"
1 H. Bach (as Molbe): “lies still"
2 Fibich: "oak tree"


This text was added to the website: 2016-02-08
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Laura Prichard
2. Die Soldatenbraut  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Die Soldatenbraut", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 2, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach, wenn's nur der König auch wüßt',
Wie wacker mein Schätzelein ist!
Für den König, da ließ' er sein Blut,
Für mich aber [ebensogut]1.

Mein Schatz hat kein Band und kein' Stern,
Kein Kreuz wie die vornehmen Herrn,
Mein Schatz wird auch kein General;
Hätt' er nur seinen Abschied einmal!

Es scheinen drei Sterne so hell
Dort über Marien-Kapell;
Da knüpft uns ein rosenrot' Band,
Und ein Hauskreuz ist auch bei der Hand.

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1 Berg: "auch eben so gut"; Schumann: "eben so gut"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2. The soldier's bride
Language: English 
Ah, if only the king knew as well
How valiant my darling is!
He would offer his lifeblood for the king,
But [just]1 the same for me.
 
My darling has no ribbons and medals,
No crosses like the lordly gentlemen,
My darling will also not become a general;
If only he could get his discharge!
 
Three stars shine so brightly
There over the Chapel of St. Mary;
There a rosy-red ribbon shall unite us,
And a cross to bear at home2 is also already on hand.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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Translated titles:
"Die Soldatenbraut" = "The soldier's bride"
"Soldatenbraut" = "Soldier's bride"

1 Berg: "also just"
2 "Hauskreuz" is a German idiom for a cranky wife.


This text was added to the website: 2015-03-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ich unglücksel'ger Atlas  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Ich unglücksel'ger Atlas", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 3, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich unglücksel'ger Atlas! eine Welt,
Die ganze Welt der Schmerzen muß ich tragen,
Ich trage Unerträgliches, und brechen
Will mir das Herz im Leibe.

Du stolzes Herz! du hast es ja gewollt,
Du wolltest glücklich seyn, unendlich glücklich
Oder unendlich elend, stolzes Herz,
Und jetzo bist du elend.

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 202; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 28.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Atlas
Language: English 
I, unblessed Atlas!
I carry a world, the entire world of pain,
I bear the unbearable,
And the heart within me wants to break.

Proud heart, you have wanted it thus!
You wanted to be happy, eternally happy,
Or eternally miserable, you proud heart,
And now you are miserable.

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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. Wo dein Fuss gegangen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Wo dein Fuss gegangen", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 4, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wo dein Fuß gegangen,
Wo gehaucht dein Mund,
Wo dein Blick gehangen:
Da ist heil'ger Grund.
 
Geh ich jetzt alleine,
Wo du je [gewallt]1,
Seh ich immer deine
Weihende Gestalt.

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Confirmed with Klaus Groth's Gesammelte Werke, Vierter Band, Plattdeutsche Erzählungen -- Hochdeutsche Gedichte, Kiel & Leipzig: Verlag von Lipsius & Tischer, 1893, pages 234-235.

1 Jenner: "geweilt"

by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
4.
Language: English 
Where your foot trod,
Where your mouth breathed,
Where your gaze rested:
That is holy ground.
 
When I now walk alone
Wherever you [wandered],1
I always see your
Consecrating figure.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translated titles:
"Wo dein Fuß gegangen" = "Where your foot trod"
"Beim Abschied zu singen" = "To be sung at parting"
1 Jenner: "lingered"


This text was added to the website: 2015-12-08
Line count: 8
Word count: 31

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Lieb Liebchen, leg's Händchen aufs Herze   [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Lieb Liebchen, leg's Händchen aufs Herze ", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 5, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lieb' Liebchen, leg's Händchen [aufs]1 Herze mein; -
Ach, hörst du, wie's [pochet]2 im Kämmerlein?
Da hauset ein Zimmermann schlimm und arg,
Der zimmert mir einen Totensarg.

[Es]3 hämmert und klopfet bei Tag und bei Nacht;
[Es]3 hat mich schon längst um den Schlaf gebracht.
Ach! sputet Euch, Meister Zimmermann,
Damit ich [balde]4 schlafen kann.

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Note: first titled "Der Zimmermann"; later titled "Holzmeyer"
1 Medtner: "auf" [sic]
2 Lange-Müller: "pocht"
3 Lange-Müller: "Er"
4 Lachner: "bald"; Franz: "nun balde"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Dear sweetheart, lay your hand on my heart
Language: English 
 Dear sweetheart, lay your hand on my heart; -
 ah, do you hear the hammering inside?
 inside there lives a carpenter, wicked and evil:
 he's building my coffin.
 
 He hammers and pounds by day and by night;
 it has been a long time since I could sleep.
 Ah, hurry, Mister Carpenter,
 finish so that I can sleep.

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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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Der Spinnerin Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Der Spinnerin Lied", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 6, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  [Es sang vor langen]1 Jahren
Wohl auch die Nachtigall!
[Das war wohl süßer Schall,]2
[Da wir zusammen waren.]3

  Ich sing' und kann nicht weinen,
Und spinne so allein,
Den Faden klar und rein
So lang' der Mond [wird]4 scheinen.

  [Da]5 wir [zusammen]6 waren,
Da sang die Nachtigall;
Nun [mahnet]7 mich ihr Schall,
[Daß]8 du von mir gefahren.

  So oft der Mond mag scheinen,
[Gedenk' ich]9 dein allein.
Mein Herz ist klar und rein --
Gott wolle uns vereinen!

  Seit du von mir gefahren,
Singt stets die Nachtigall,
Ich [denke]10 bei ihrem Schall,
Wie wir zusammen waren.

  Gott wolle uns vereinen!
Hier spinn' ich so allein.
Der Mond scheint klar und rein,
Ich sing' und möchte weinen!

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Confirmed with Clemens Brentano, Aus der Chronika eines fahrenden Schülers, Berlin: Paul Gerh. Heinersdorff, Hofbuchhandlung, [1871], pages 31-32.

1 Kauffmann: "Es sang vor vielen"; Matthes: "Einst sang vor langen"; further changes may exist not noted.
2 Lang (op. 36[38]): "Da wir beisammen waren"; Lang (unpublished): " Als wir beisammen waren,"; Thuille: "Das war so süßer Schall"
3 Lang (op. 36[38]): "Das war wohl süßer Schall!"; Lang (unpublished): "Ach! es war wohl süßer Schall!"
4 Lang (op. 36[38] when the text is repeated): "mag"; Thuille: "will"
5 Reichardt: "Als"
6 Thuille: "beisammen"
7 Reichardt: "martert"
8 Reichardt: "Da"
9 Reichardt: "Denk ich wohl"
10 Lang (op. 36[38]), Reichardt, Thuille: "denk' "

by Clemens Maria Wenzeslaus von Brentano (1778 - 1842)
6.
Language: English 
  [Long]1 years ago the nightingale
Must surely have sung as well!
[That was indeed a sweet sound]2
When we were together.]3

  I sing and cannot weep,
And thus alone I spin
The thread so clear and pure
As long as the moon [shall]4 shine.

  When we were together
The nightingale sang;
Now its sound [reminds]5 me
[That]6 you have gone away from me.

  Whenever the moon shines,
[I think]7 only of you.
My heart is serene and pure -
May God unite us.

  Since you went away from me,
The nightingale is always singing;
When I hear it I remember
How we used to be together.

  May God unite us!
Here I spin all alone.
The moon shines so clearly and purely;
I sing and want to weep.

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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Translated titles:
Altes Lied = Old song
Der Spinnerin Lied = Song of a spinning girl
Der Spinnerin Nachtlied = Night song of a spinning girl Es sang vor langen Jahren = Long years ago there sang
Lied der Spinnerin= Song of a spinning girl
Sehnsucht = Yearning
1 Kauffmann: "Many"; further changes may exist not noted.
2 Lang (both settings): "When we were together"; Thuille: "That was such a sweet sound"
3 Lang (op. 36[38]): "That was indeed a sweet sound!"; Lang (unpublished): "Ah! it was indeed a sweet sound!"
4 Lang (op. 36[38] when the text is repeated): "might"; Thuille: "wishes to"
5 Reichardt: "tortures"
6 Reichardt: "Since"
7 Reichardt: "I indeed think"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-23
Line count: 24
Word count: 135

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
7. Es hat die warme Frühlingsnacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Es hat die warme Frühlingsnacht", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 7, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es hat die warme Frühlingsnacht
Die Blumen hervorgetrieben,
Und nimmt mein Herz sich nicht in acht,
So wird es sich wieder verlieben.

Doch welche von den Blumen alln
Wird mir das Herz umgarnen?
Es wollen die singenden Nachtigalln
Mich vor der Lilje warnen.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
7.
[Translation not yet available]
8. Gekommen ist der Maie  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Gekommen ist der Maie", op. 9 (Acht Gesänge) no. 8, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gekommen ist der [Maye]1,
Die Blumen und Bäume blühn,
Und durch [die Himmelsbläue]2
Die [rosigen]3 Wolken ziehn.

Die [Nachtigallen]4 singen
Herab aus [der laubigen]5 Höh,
Die weißen Lämmer springen
Im weichen grünen Klee.

[Ich kann nicht singen und springen]6,
Ich liege krank im Gras;
Ich höre fernes Klingen,
Mir träumt, ich weiß nicht was.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Historisch-kritische Gesamtausgabe der Werke, herausgegeben von Manfred Windfuhr, Band 2, Neue Gedichte, bearbeitet von Elisabeth Genton, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, 1983, pages 13-14.

1 Curschmann, Marek: "Maie"
2 Franz: "des Himmels Bläue"
3 Curschmann: "ros'gen"
4 Curschmann: "lust'gen Vöglein"
5 Curschmann: "luftiger"
6 Curschmann: "Doch ich kann nicht springen und singen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
8. May has come
Language: English 
May has come,
The flowers and the trees blossom,
And through the blue of heaven
The rosy clouds travel.

The [nightingales]1 are singing
Down from the [leafy]2 heights,
The white lambs are leaping about
In the soft green clover.

[I cannot sing and leap]3,
Ill I lie in the grass;
I hear a distant ringing,
I am dreaming I know not what.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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):
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"
"Mailied" = "May-song"
"Zum ersten Mai" = "For the first of May"
"Frühlingsankunft" = "Spring's arrival"
"Ungestillte Sehnsucht" = "Unassuaged yearning"
"Im Mai" = "In May"
"Duett" = "Duet"
"Der Mai" = "May"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Gekommen ist der Maie" = "May has come"
"Der neue Frühling" = "The new spring"

1 Curschmann: "merry birdlets"
2 Curschmann: "airy"
3 Curschmann: "But I cannot leap and sing"


This text was added to the website: 2020-03-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Sharon Krebs