Simple songs

Song Cycle by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

View original-language texts alone: Schlichte Weisen

1. All mein' Gedanken, mein Herz und mein Sinn
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
All mein' Gedanken, mein Herz und mein Sinn,
Da, wo die Liebste ist, wandern sie hin.
Geh'n ihres Weges trotz Mauer und Thor,
Da hält kein Riegel, kein Graben nicht vor,
Geh'n wie die Vögelein hoch durch die Luft,
Brauchen kein' Brücken über Wasser und Kluft,
Finden das Städtlein und finden das Haus,
Finden ihr Fenster aus allen heraus,
Und klopfen und rufen: "mach' auf, laß uns ein,
Wir kommen vom Liebsten und grüßen dich fein."

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by Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn (1834 - 1912)
1. All my thoughts, my heart and my mind
Language: English 
 All my thoughts, my heart and my mind,
 wander there, to where my sweetheart is.
 They follow their path despite wall and gate;
 they are held up by no bars and no ditches.
 They travel like the birds high in the sky,
 requiring no bridge over water and chasm;
 they find the town and find the house,
 find her window out of all the others.
 And they knock and call: Open, let us in!
 we come from your sweetheart and greet you kindly.

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.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 84

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Du meines Herzens Krönelein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du meines Herzens Krönelein, du bist von lautrem Golde:
  Wenn andere daneben sein, dann bist du noch viel holde.
  Die andern tun so gern gescheit, du bist gar sanft und stille;
  Daß jedes Herz sich dein erfreut, dein Glück ist's, nicht dein Wille.
Die andern suchen Lieb' und Gunst mit tausend falschen Worten,
  Du ohne Mund- und Augen-Kunst, bist wert an allen Orten.
  Du bist als wie die Ros' im Wald: sie weiß nichts von ihrer Blüte,
  Doch jedem, der vorüberwallt, erfreut sie das Gemüte.

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by Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn (1834 - 1912)
2.
Language: English 
You, my heart's crown - you are made of sheer gold.
 When others are beside you, then you are only more beautiful.
 The others like to be so clever, but you are so gentle and quiet:
 that you delight every heart is your good luck, not your active intent.
The othes search for love and good will with a thousand false words,
 but you, without an artful tongue or eye, are considered worthy in every place.
 You are like a rose in the forest:  you know nothing of your own bloom,
 but everyone who passes by  rejoices in his mind to see you.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 102

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Ach Lieb, ich muß nun scheiden
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach Lieb, ich muß nun scheiden, gehn über Berg und Thal:
Die Erlen und die Weiden, die weinen allzumal.
Sie sahn so oft uns wandern zusammen an Baches Rand,
Das eine ohn' den andern geht über ihren Verstand.
Die Erlen und die Weiden vor Schmerz in Thränen stehn, --
Nun denket, wie's uns beiden erst muß zu Herzen gehn!

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by Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn (1834 - 1912)
3. Alas, my love, I must now part from you
Language: English 
Alas, my love, I must now part from you, and go beyond the mountain and valley;
the alders and the willows are weeping all the while.
They watched us wander so often together by the edge of the brook;
the sight of one of us without the other will surpass their understanding.
O alders and willows, standing weeping with pain,
just think now how we must feel in our hearts!

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.


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Translation of title "Ach Lieb, ich muß nun scheiden" = "Alas, my love, I must now part from you"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 6
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Ach weh mir unglückhaftem Mann
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach weh mir unglückhaftem Mann, daß ich Geld und Gut nicht habe,
Sonst spannt' ich gleich vier Schimmel an und führ' zu dir im Trabe.
Ich putzte sie mit Schellen aus, daß du mich hört'st von weitem,
Ich steckt' ein'n großen Rosenstrauß an meine linke Seiten.
Und käm' ich an dein kleines Haus, thät' ich mit der Peitsche schlagen:
Da gucktest du zum Fenster 'naus: "Was willst du?" thätst du fragen.
"Was soll der großen Rosenstrauß, die Schimmel an dem Wagen?"
"Dich will ich," rief' ich, "komm heraus!" Da thätst du nimmer fragen.
"Nun, Vater, Mutter, seht sie an und küßt sie rasch zum Scheiden,
Weil ich nicht lange warten kann, meine Schimmel wolln's nicht leiden."

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by Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn (1834 - 1912)
4.
Language: English 
Alas, I am an unlucky man, to have neither money nor goods;
otherwise I would quickly harness four white horses and lead them into a trot.
I would adorn them with bells, so that you could hear them from afar;
I would stick a large bouquet of roses on my left side.
And when I came to your little house, I would snap my whip,
and you would look out of your window: "What do you want?" you would ask.
"What are you doing with this large bouquet of roses, and these white horses and carriage?"
"It is you I want," I would cry; "Come out!" And then you would ask no more questions.
"Now, Father, Mother, gaze at her and kiss her quickly in farewell,
for I cannot wait much longer - my horses won't tolerate it."

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 "Ach weh mir unglückhaftem Mann" = "Alas, I am an unlucky man"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 137

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Die Frauen sind oft fromm und still
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Frauen sind oft fromm und still, wo wir ungebärdig toben,
  Und wann sich eine Stärken will, dann blickt sie stumm nach oben.
  Ihr' Kraft und Stärke ist gering, ein Lüftchen kann sie knicken,
  Doch ist's ein eignes, starkes Ding, wenn sie gen Himmel blicken.
Oft hab' ich selbst mit aufgesehn, sah die Mutter so nach oben:
  Ich sah nur graue Wolken gehn und blaue Luft da droben:
  Sie aber, wenn sie niedersah, war voller Kraft und Hoffen: -- --
  Mir ist, die Frauen hie und da sehn noch den Himmel offen.

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by Felix Ludwig Julius Dahn (1834 - 1912)
5. Women are often pious and quiet
Language: English 
Women are often pious and quiet when we [men] rage about wildly;
and whenever they need some strength, they gaze up silently to the heavens.
Their power and strength is slight: a breeze can push them over;
yet it is a singular, powerful thing when they gaze up to heaven.
Often have I myself, with a stir, seen my mother looking up so;
I saw only gray clouds moving, and blue air above up there,
but when she lowered her eyes, she was full of power and hope.
It seems to me that now and then, women are clearly still looking at heaven [in their hearts].

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

Translation of title "Die Frauen sind oft fromm und still" = "Women are often pious and quiet"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Ezust