English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 16
by Pauline von Decker (1811 - 1882)
1. Volkslied
by Pauline von Decker (1811 - 1882), "Volkslied", op. 16 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch)
Ich hatte eine Nachtigall, Die sang so schön, die sang so schön; Sie ist davon geflogen, Weit über Thal und Höh'n. Ich hatt' ein junges Röselein, So frisch und klar, so frisch und klar; Es war mir weggestohlen, Dieweil ich ferne war. Ich hatte einen lieben Schatz, Mein Glück und Glanz, mein Glück und Glanz, Sie ist davon gezogen, Trug einen Myrthenkranz.
Text Authorship:
- by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Verlust", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 6. Vermischte Gedichte
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by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913)
1. Folk song
Language: English
I had a nightingale, It sang so beautifully, it sang so beautifully; It has flown away, Far across valley and heights. I had a young little rose, So fresh and clear, so fresh and clear; It was stolen from me, [While]1 I was far away. I had a beloved darling, [My happiness, my splendour, my happiness, my splendour;]2 She has gone away, She wore a myrtle wreath.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913), "Verlust", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 6. Vermischte Gedichte
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View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"Ich hatte eine Nachtigall" = "I had a nightingale"
"Verlust" = "Loss"
"Volkslied" = "Folk song"
2 Decker: "My happiness and splendour, my happiness and splendour "
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-21
Line count: 12
Word count: 67
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Wiegenlied
by Pauline von Decker (1811 - 1882), "Wiegenlied", op. 16 (Drei Lieder) no. 2, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch)
Die Ähren nur noch nicken, Das Haupt ist ihnen schwer; Die müden Blumen blicken, Nur schüchtern noch umher. Es kommen Abendwinde, Still wie die Engelein, Und neigen sanft und linde Die Halm' und Blumen ein. Und wie die Blumen blicken, So schüchtern blickst du nun, Und wie die Ähren nicken Will auch dein Häuptlein ruh'n. Und Abendklänge schwingen Still wie die Engelein Sich um die Wieg', und singen Mein Kind in Schlummer ein.
Text Authorship:
- by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), no title, appears in Kinderlieder, in Wiegenlieder II, no. 3
See other settings of this text.
Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the word "Ähren" becomes "Aehren", but as can be seen in how "über" becomes "Ueber" when capitalized, this is due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, so we use "Ähren".
by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
2. Lullaby
Language: English
Only the ears of wheat still nod, Their heads are heavy; The tired flowers gaze Only shyly about now. [Then come evening breezes]1, As silently as little angels, And softly and gently [rock]2 The stalks and [flowers]3 to rest. And as the flowers gaze about, So shyly you too gaze now, And as the ears of wheat are nodding Your little head wishes to rest as well. And the evening sounds come gliding Quietly, like the little angels, About your cradle, and sing My child into slumber.
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), no title, appears in Kinderlieder, in Wiegenlieder II, no. 3
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Die Ähren nur noch nicken" = "Only the ears of wheat still nod"
"Schlummerlied" = "Slumber Song"
"Wiegenlied" = "Lullaby"
"Wiegenliedchen" = "Little lullaby"
"Wiegenlied im Sommer" = "Lullaby in summertime"
2 Decker (possibly an error): "incline"
3 Kiel: "bushes"
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 87
Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. So weit
by Pauline von Decker (1811 - 1882), "So weit", op. 16 (Drei Lieder) no. 3, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch)
Bächlein im Wiesengrund Rinnst du noch immer? Blumen im Heimathland Gebt ihr noch Schimmer? Halme der Heimathkluft Mögt ihr noch rauschen? Lerche der Heimatkluft Könnt' ich Dir lauschen! Duftige Blumenzeit, O wie so weit! Fließt noch durch Blumen bunt Silberne Kühle; Rauscht noch im Lindengrund Klappernde Mühle; Fenster aus Laubgewind Leuchtet noch munter, Aber das schönste Kind Schaut nicht herunter -- Liebe der Jugendzeit, O wie so weit! Glück vorbei, Duft verweht, Liebe vergangen! Durch meine Seele geht Leises Verlangen. Dürft' ich doch einmal nur, Einmal Dich schauen -- Heimathwald, Heimathflur, Schönste der Frauen! Aber wie Ewigkeit Bist Du mir weit. --
Text Authorship:
- by Julius Rodenberg (1831 - 1914), "So weit!", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in 2. Über die Berge
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by Julius Rodenberg (1831 - 1914)
3. O how far
Language: English
Brooklet at the meadow's edge, do you still flow? Flowers in my homeland, do you still blossom? Stalks of grain, do you still rustle in the breezes? Lark in the fair sky, could I but hear your song! Pleasant youth, oh how far, oh how distant. Does the silvery cool zephyr still waft through flowers? Does the old mill still clatter in the rustling linden-grove? The window in the ivied wall still shines brightly, but the most beautiful maiden looks down no more. Love of my youth, oh how far, oh how distant! Happiness gone by, fragrance faded, love long gone! Through my soul passes gentle desire. All this one is allowed once, only once, you see; Home-forest, home-meadows, dearest maidens! But how long ago, you are so long past; oh how far away.
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Julius Rodenberg (1831 - 1914), "So weit!", appears in Lieder und Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in 2. Über die Berge
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 134
Translation © by John H. Campbell