English translations of Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte, opus 3

by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869)

Return to the original list

1. Wenn ich auf dem Lager liege  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869), "Wenn ich auf dem Lager liege", op. 3 (Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1874 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ich auf dem Lager liege
In Nacht [und Kissen]1 gehüllt,
So schwebt mir vor ein süßes,
Anmutig liebes Bild!

Wenn mir der stille Schlummer
Geschlossen die Augen kaum,
So schleicht [das Bild sich leise]2
Hinein in meinen Traum

[Doch]3 mit dem Traum des Morgens
Zerrinnt es nimmermehr;
Dann trag' ich es im Herzen
Den ganzen Tag umher.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with Heinrich Heine's Sämmtliche Werke, Erster Band: Reisebilder, Dritte Auflage, Philadelphia: Verlag von John Weik, 1856, pages 29-30.

1 omitted by Mendelssohn
2 Lang: "das liebe Bild"
3 Lang: "Und"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. When I lie on the bed
Language: English 
When I lie on the bed, 
shrouded in night and cushions, 
So floats before me a sweet,
lovely dear image.

When silent slumber 
has barely closed my eyes, 
So creeps the image quietly
into my dream.

And in the morning 
it never fades away with the dream:
Then I carry it about with me in my heart 
the whole day.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David K. Smythe, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by David K. Smythe
2. Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869), "Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen", op. 3 (Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1874 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
     Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen, –
Krankes Herz und müde Glieder; –
Ach, da fließt, wie stiller Segen,
Süßer Mond, dein Licht hernieder.

     Süßer Mond, mit deinen Strahlen
Scheuchest du das nächt’ge Grauen;
Es zerrinnen meine Qualen,
Und die Augen überthauen.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Die Heimkehr, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1827, page 256. Modern German would change the spelling of "überthauen" to "übertauen". First included in Rheinische Flora, no. 12


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Night lies on the unfamiliar roads
Language: English 
 Night lies on the unfamiliar roads;
 a sick heart and tired limbs...
 ah, like a quiet blessing, there flows down,
 sweet moon, your light;

 Sweet moon, with your rays
 You drive away the night horror;
 Away runs my pain,
 And my eyes brim over with tears.

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: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869), "Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen", op. 3 (Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1874 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen,
Und ertrage dein Geschick.
Neuer Frühling [giebt]1 zurück,
Was der Winter dir genommen.

  Und wie viel ist dir geblieben!
Und wie schön ist noch die Welt!
Und mein Herz, was dir gefällt,
Alles, alles darfst du lieben!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

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 136.

Note: contemporary German spelling would change "giebt" to "gibt".

1 Bruné: "bringt"; Lachner: "gibt dir"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed
Language: English 
Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed,
and bear your fate:
a new Spring will give back
what Winter has taken from you.

Just think how many things remain,
and how fair is the world!
And, my heart, whatever you find pleasing,
anything, everything - you may love!

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: 46

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Am fernen Horizonte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869), "Am fernen Horizonte", op. 3 (Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1874 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am fernen Horizonte
Erscheint, wie ein Nebelbild,
Die Stadt mit ihren Thürmen,
In Abenddämmrung gehüllt.

Ein feuchter Windzug kräuselt
Die graue Wasserbahn;
Mit traurigem Tacte rudert
Der Schiffer in meinem Kahn.

Die Sonne hebt sich noch einmal
Leuchtend vom Boden empor,
Und zeigt mir jene Stelle,
Wo ich das Liebste verlor.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 195; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 21.

First published as number III of Drei und dreißig Gedichte von H. Heine in Der Gesellschafter oder Blätter für Geist und Herz. Herausgegeben von F. W. Gubitz. Achter Jahrgang. Berlin, 1824. In der Maurerschen Buchhandlung. Freitag den 26. März. 49stes Blatt, page 243.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Appearing on the far horizon
Language: English 
Appearing on the far horizon
Like a picture in the fog,
A city, with its towers
Shrouded in the evening dusk.

A damp gust of wind eddies
The course of the grey water;
With a mournful rhythm
The boatman rows in my boat.

The sun lifts itself once more,
Glowing upwards from below the horizon,
And shows me that place
Where I lost what was dearest to me.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 68

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
5. Es fällt ein Stern herunter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Claussen (1843 - 1869), "Es fällt ein Stern herunter", op. 3 (Fünf Lieder von H. Heine, für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1874 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es fällt ein Stern herunter
Aus seiner funkelnden Höh;
Das ist der Stern der Liebe,
Den ich dort fallen seh.
 
Es fallen vom Apfelbaume,
Der [weißen Blätter so viel]1,
Es kommen die neckenden [Lüfte]2,
Und treiben damit ihr Spiel.
 
Es singt [der]3 Schwan im [Weiher]4,
Und rudert auf und ab,
Und immer leiser singend,
Taucht er ins Flutengrab.
 
Es ist so still und [dunkel]5!
Verweht ist Blatt und Blüt',
Der Stern ist knisternd zerstoben,
Verklungen das Schwanenlied.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 163.

1 Backer-Grøndahl, Haine: "Blüten und Blätter viel"; Cui, Gernsheim, Pfitzner: "Blüten und Blätter so viel"; Mangold: "weißen Blätter viel"; Unger: "Blätter und Blüten viel"
2 Gernsheim: "Winde"
3 Unger: "ein"
4 Gernsheim: "Wasser"
5 Haine, Mangold: "so dunkel"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. A star is tumbling downward
Language: English 
A star is tumbling downward
From where it sparkled on high,
It is the star for lovers,
That falling there I spy.

The apple tree has been shedding
White petals abundantly
Along come the breezes so teasing
And toying with the debris.

The swan sings in the water,
And paddles o'er each wave,
And singing ever softer,
Dives to his watery grave.

It is so dark and silent,
Swept off are bloom and leaf,
The star has fizzled and scattered;
And faded, the swan's song, so brief.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 87

Translation © by Walter Meyer