English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 52

by Friedrich Robert Volkmann (1815 - 1883)

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1. Mir träumte von einem Königskind  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Robert Volkmann (1815 - 1883), "Mir träumte von einem Königskind", op. 52 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1866 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Pest, Heckenast
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mir [träumte]1 von einem Königskind,
Mit nassen, blassen Wangen;
Wir sassen unter der grünen Lind'
Und hielten uns liebeumfangen.

"Ich will nicht deines Vaters Thron,
Ich will nicht sein Scepter [von]2 Golde,
Ich will nicht seine demantene Kron',
Ich will dich selber, du Holde!"

Das kann nicht sein, sprach sie zu mir,
ich liege ja im Grabe,
und nur des Nachts komm' ich zu dir,
weil ich so lieb dich habe.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 146. Note: modern German would spell "Scepter" as "Zepter" (line 2-2).

1 Kern: "träumte einst"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Weiss: "aus"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
I dreamed of a king's daughter
With wet, pale cheeks;
We sat beneath the green linden 
And held each other, full of love.

"I do not want your father's throne,
I do not want his scepter of gold,
I do not want his crown of diamonds --
I want you yourself, you lovely one!"

It cannot be, she said to me :
I lie in my grave,
And only at night do I come to you,
Because I love you so much.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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: 2019-08-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Aus den Himmel droben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Robert Volkmann (1815 - 1883), "Aus den Himmel droben", op. 52 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1866 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Pest, Heckenast
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 Sternentränen
Überfließet meine Seele.

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1 Franz: "lichte"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by John H. Campbell
3. Die Nachtigall  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Robert Volkmann (1815 - 1883), "Die Nachtigall", op. 52 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1866 [ tenor or soprano and piano ], Pest, Heckenast
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Das]1 macht, es hat die Nachtigall
Die ganze [Nacht]2 gesungen;
Da sind von ihrem süssen Schall,
Da sind [in]3 Hall und Widerhall
Die [Rosen]4 aufgesprungen.
 
Sie war doch sonst ein wildes [Kind]5,
[Nun]6 geht sie [tief]7 in Sinnen,
Trägt in der Hand den Sommerhut
Und duldet [still]8 der Sonne Glut
Und weiß nicht, was beginnen.

Das macht, es hat die Nachtigall
Die ganze Nacht gesungen;
Da sind von ihrem süssen Schall,
Da sind [in]3 Hall und Widerhall
Die [Rosen]4 aufgesprungen.

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1 Watkinson: "Es"; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Hasse: "Tag" (from Hofmeister); further changes may exist not noted above.
3 Scholz: "von"
4 Greger: "Knospen"
5 Berg, Scholz: "Blut"
6 Wolff: "Jetzt"
7 Greger: "still"
8 Wolff: "stumm"

by Theodor Storm (1817 - 1888)
3. The nightingale
Language: English 
It happened because the nightingale 
sang the whole night long;
from her sweet call,
from the echo and re-echo,
roses have sprung up.

She was but recently a wild blossom,
and now she walks, deep in thought;
she carries her summer hat in her hand,
enduring quietly the heat of the sun,
knowing not what to begin.

It happened because the nightingale 
sang the whole night long;
from her sweet call,
from the echo and re-echo,
roses have sprung up.

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:

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Translation of title "Die Nachtigall" = "The nightingale"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust