English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 5

by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940)

1. Frühlingsregen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Frühlingsregen", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1, published 1912 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Nebel [ist]1 über der Stadt.
Die Höhen sind kahl.
Alle Menschen sind matt
Und [gehn]2 wie in Qual.

Ein Regen [wird]3 niedersinken,
Warm, weich und schwer.
Alle Äcker werden ihn trinken . . .
Nur [mein Acker]4 bleibt tropfenleer!

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Confirmed with Richard Schaukal, Tristia. Neue Gedichte aus den Jahren 1897-98, Leipzig, Verlag von P. Friesenhahn, 1898, page 105.

1 Cahn-Speyer: "liegt"
2 Cahn-Speyer: "gehen,"
3 Cahn-Speyer: "will"
4 Cahn-Speyer: "meiner"

by Richard von Schaukal (1874 - 1942)
1. Spring rain
Language: English 
[There is a fog]1 upon the city.
The heights are bare.
All humans are weary
And walk about as if in agony.

A rain [shall]2 descend,
Warm, soft, and plentiful.
All the fields shall drink it . . . 
Only [my field]3 shall remain empty of raindrops!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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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1 Cahn-Speyer: "A fog lies "
2 Cahn-Speyer: "wishes to"
3 Cahn-Speyer: "mine"


This text was added to the website: 2022-10-18
Line count: 8
Word count: 50

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Kranke im Garten
 (Sung text)
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Der Kranke im Garten", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1912 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Noch eine Nachtigall, so spät?
Schon sind die Blüthen längst verweht,
Der Sommer reift die Felder schon,
Und noch ein Frühlingston?

O Lenz, ward es dir offenbar,
Daß ich noch sterbe dieses Jahr?
Und riefest aus der Ferne du
Noch einen Gruß mir zu? --

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. The ill one in the garden
Language: English 
[A nightingale still,]1 so late?
The blossoms have long since been scattered by the wind,
Summer is already ripening the fields,
And still a sound of springtime?

Oh Spring, was it revealed to you
That I would die this year yet?
And from out of the distance did you
Call a greeting to me once more?

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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Translations of title(s):
"Ahnung" = "Premonition"
"Der Kranke im Garten" = "The ill one in the garden"
"Der letzte Gruß" = "The last greeting"

1 Hochberg: "What? A nightingale?"; further changes may exist not shown above.


This text was added to the website: 2021-10-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Tod, ruf noch nicht
 (Sung text)
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Tod, ruf noch nicht", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1912 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tod! ruf' noch nicht!
Hab' bis jetzt nur gestritten,
Hab' bis jetzt nur gelitten!
Tod! ruf' noch nicht!
Erst möcht' ich einmal küssen,
Einmal vom Glücke wissen!
Dann ruf' mich, Tod!

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by Gretl Cahn-Speyer
3. Death! do not summon [me] yet
Language: English 
Death! do not summon [me] yet!
Up until now I have only fought,
Up until now I have only suffered!
Death! do not summon [me] yet!
First I would like to kiss once,
To know of happiness once!
Then summon me, death!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 2022-10-18
Line count: 7
Word count: 42

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Vor der Schmiede
 (Sung text)
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Vor der Schmiede", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1912, stanzas 1,3 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schmied, lieber Schmied, schließ' auf Deine Thüre,
Rühre die Bälge, den Feuerbrand schüre!
Rücke das Eisen recht unter die Glut,
Schmiede mir's fest, und niete mir's gut! --

 ... 

Schmied, lieber Schmied, ich bitte Dich sehr,
Schmied' einen Reifen um's Herz mir her,
Rühre und schüre und schwinge den Hammer,
Daß mir's nicht springe vor Weh und Jammer!

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by Justus Friedrich Reinhard Spitzner (1863 - 1922), as Reinhard Volker
4. In front of the smithy
Language: English 
Blacksmith, dear blacksmith, unlock your door,
Ply the bellows, stoke up the fire!
Move the iron right under the blaze,
Forge it firmly and rivet it well for me! --

[ ... ]

Blacksmith, dear blacksmith, I beg you earnestly,
Forge a ring about my heart,
Bestir yourself and stoke and swing your hammer,
So that my heart may not burst for misery and woe!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: 2016-09-29
Line count: 12
Word count: 97

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Am Kreuzweg
 (Sung text)
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Am Kreuzweg", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1912 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Kreuzweg wird begraben
Wer selber sich brachte um;
Dort wächst eine blaue Blume,
Die Armensünderblum' .

Am Kreuzweg stand ich und seufzte;
Die Nacht war kalt und stumm.
Im Mondschein bewegte sich langsam
Die Armensünderblum' .

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5.
Language: English 
At the crossroads he was buried,
the one who took his own life.
A blue flower grows there,
the Woeful-sinner's-bloom.
 
At the crossroads I stood sighing;
the night was cold and still.
The Woeful-sinner's-bloom
slowly stirred in the moonlight.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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: 2012-02-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin
6. Ständchen
 (Sung text)
by Rudolf S. Cahn-Speyer (1881 - 1940), "Ständchen", op. 5 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1912 [ voice and piano ], Cöln am Rhein: Verlag Tischer & Jagenberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Und kommt des Wegs ein Musikant,
Die Fiedel auf dem Rücken, 
So will ich ihn durch's weite Land 
Zu meiner Liebsten schicken. 

  Und wenn die ganze Stadt erwacht, 
Geh fiedeln auf die Gassen! 
Du darfst in dieser Sommernacht 
Kein Mädchen schlafen lassen. 

  Der Wächter bleibt verwundert stehn, 
Kein Brunnen soll mehr rauschen. 
Der Mond vergißt das Weitergehn, 
Um deinem Klang zu lauschen! 

  Und hört es auch die ganze Stadt, 
Du spielst nur für die Eine; 
Die beide Fenster offen hat, 
Die ist es, die ich meine . . .

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by Ludwig Jacobowski (1868 - 1900)
6. Serenade
Language: English 
  And if a musician should come along,
With his fiddle upon his back,
[I]1 would send him through the wide land
To my beloved.

  And though the whole city wakens,
Go fiddle upon the streets!
In this summer night, you [are to]2
Let not a single maiden sleep.

  The watchman is to stop bemused,
No fountain is to flow.
The moon is to forget to travel on
In order to listen to your sounds!

  And though the entire city hears it,
You are playing for only one person;
She who has both windows open,
It is she whom I mean . . .

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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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1 Cahn-Speyer: "Then I"
2 Cahn-Speyer: "may not"


This text was added to the website: 2022-10-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 106

Translation © by Sharon Krebs