English translations of Sechs Lieder für Männerchor, opus 35

  I would like to live upon the mountains,
Upon the alps, sublime and silent;
I would like to drift with the clouds
Toward the distant, treasured goal.
But only in tears and with yearning
My eyes ever gaze thither,
Where the silver brows of the old snows
Glow far out into the land.

  I am again drawn toward the [mountains]1
With unceasing power,
When I hear voices, when I hear songs
That the echo sounds back to me.
[For, oh]2 only in tears and with yearning
My eyes ever gaze thither,
Where the silver brows of the old snows
Glow far out into the land.

  When suffused with the sunbeams of morning
The valley's flowers bloom in silence,
I think of the alpine roses
That flee the tending of mankind.
But only in tears and with yearning
My eyes ever gaze thither,
Where the silver brows of the old snows
Glow far out into the land.

  In the lowlands, ah, in vain
I seek the trace of my happiness,
[For the]3 peace of my life
Only thrones upon the heavenly heights!
But only in tears and with yearning
My eyes ever gaze thither,
Where the silver brows of the old snows
Glow far out into the land.

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is knocking on my little window?
Then the wind will say to you:
“I am! Oh, let me inside!
Your beloved is so anxious to be near you,
I bring you greetings, and kisses and song – 
Slumber sweetly!”

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is shining so brightly?”
Then the moon will say to you:
“I am! O, let me inside!
I come from the One, who is still awake,
Who prays for you every night,
Slumber sweetly!”

If, in a dream, you may ask:
“Who is making such a sweet sound?”
Then a little bird will say to you:
“I am, the nightingale!
Of love and longing I sing lustily,
Until your eyes see the morning – 
Slumber sweetly!”