English translations of Six Songs by Heinrich Heine, opus 1

by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953)

1. Ich wollte meine Lieder   [sung text not yet checked]
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Ich wollte meine Lieder ", op. 1 no. 1, published 1895
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wollte, meine Lieder
Das wären Blümelein:
Ich schickte sie zu riechen
Der Herzallerliebsten mein.

Ich wollte, meine Lieder
Das wären Küsse fein:
Ich schickt sie heimlich alle
Nach Liebchens Wängelein.

Ich wollte, meine Lieder
Das wären Erbsen klein:
Ich kocht eine Erbsensuppe,
Die sollte köstlich sein.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 1 no. 2, published 1895, also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. May song
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "May song", op. 1 no. 2, published 1895, also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. Thou'rt like a tender blossom
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Thou'rt like a tender blossom", op. 1 no. 3, published 1895, also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
Thou'rt like a tender blossom
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

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  • Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. Du bist wie eine Blume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Du bist wie eine Blume", op. 1 no. 3, published 1895, also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine [Blume]1
[So hold und schön und rein;]2
Ich [schau']3 dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als [ob ich]4 die Hände
Aufs Haupt [dir]5 legen sollt',
[Betend]6, daß [Gott dich]7 erhalte
[So rein und schön und hold]8.

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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.

1 Hamma: "Blüthe"
2 Ander: "So schön, so rein und hold"; Chadwick: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So hold, so schön und rein"; Becker, Thuille: "So hold, so schön, so rein"; Unger: "So rein so schön und hold"; Schleinizt: "So schön und hold und rein"
3 Becker: "seh'"
4 Hinrichs: "ob"
5 Hinrichs: "ich dir"
6 Dreyschock: "und beten"
7 Liszt: "dich Gott"
8 Ander: "So hold und schön und rein"; Chadwick, Thuille: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So rein, so schön und hold"; Becker: "So rein, so schön, so hold"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Thou art, as is a flower
Language: English 
Thou art, as is a flower,
so meek and pure and fine,
I look at thee and sadness
steals o'er the heart of mine.

I feel that both my hands softly
thy hair, thy head should seek,
praying that God may preserve thee
so pure and fine and meek.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (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.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-08-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Aus den Himmelsaugen droben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Aus den Himmelsaugen droben", op. 1 no. 5, published 1895
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus den Himmelsaugen droben
Fallen zitternd [goldne]1 Funken
Durch die Nacht, und meine Seele
Dehnt sich liebeweit und weiter.

O ihr Himmelsaugen droben!
Weint euch aus in meine Seele,
Daß von [lichten]2 Sternentränen
Überfließet meine Seele.

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1 Franz: "lichte"
2 Franz: "lieben"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. From heaven's eyes above
Language: English 
 From heaven's eyes above
 fall trembling sparks of light
 through the night, and my soul
 stretches itself loving-far and further.
 
 O you heavenly eyes above!
 Cry yourselves out into my soul,
 This weeping star-light
 overflows my soul.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by John H. Campbell
7. Aus alten Märchen winkt es  [sung text not yet checked]
by Louis Lavater (1867 - 1953), "Aus alten Märchen winkt es", op. 1 no. 6, published 1895
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus alten Märchen winkt es
Hervor mit weißer Hand,
Da singt es und da klingt es
Von einem Zauberland;

Wo bunte Blumen blühen
Im gold'nen Abendlicht,
Und lieblich duftend glühen,
Mit bräutlichem Gesicht;

Und grüne Bäume singen
Uralte Melodei'n,
Die Lüfte heimlich klingen,
Und Vögel schmettern drein;

Und Nebelbilder steigen
Wohl aus der Erd' hervor,
Und tanzen [luft'gen]1 Reigen
Im wunderlichen Chor; 

Und blaue Funken brennen
[An]2 jedem Blatt und Reis,
Und rote Lichter [rennen]3
Im irren, wirren Kreis;

Und laute Quellen brechen
Aus wildem Marmorstein.
Und seltsam in den Bächen
Strahlt fort der Widerschein. 

Ach, könnt' ich dorthin kommen,
Und dort mein Herz erfreu'n,
Und aller Qual entnommen,
Und frei und selig sein!

Ach! jenes Land der Wonne,
Das seh' ich oft im Traum,
Doch kommt die Morgensonne,
Zerfließt's wie eitel Schaum.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 148. Note: this is the original version. Later editions had many changes.

1 Grill: "lust'gen" (typo?)
2 Grill: "Auf"
3 Grill: "brennen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
7. From old fairy tales beckons
Language: English 
From old fairy tales beckons
To me a white hand,
Where there is a singing and sounding
Of a magical land,

Where multicolored flowers bloom
In golden twilight,
And glow lovely and fragrant
With their bridal visage,

And where green trees sing
Primeval melodies;
Where breezes sound secretly,
And birds warble,

And mist-figures rise
From the earth
And dance airy round-dances
In an odd chorus,

And blue sparks burn
On every leaf and twig,
And red lights run
In a mad, chaotic circle,

And loud springs break
Out of wild marble stone,
And in the streams--oddly--
Shine forth the reflections.

Ah! If I could enter there
And indulge my heart
And give up my agony
And be free and holy!

Ah! This is the land of bliss
That I see so often in a dream,
But when the morning sun comes,
It melts like mere froth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 146

Translation © by Paul Hindemith