Seven early songs

Translations © by Emily Ezust

Song Cycle by Alban Maria Johannes Berg (1885 - 1935)

View original-language texts alone: Sieben frühe Lieder

1. Nacht
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmern Wolken über Nacht und Thal,
Nebel schweben. Wasser rauschen sacht.
Nun entschleiert sich's mit einem Mal:
O gieb acht! gieb acht!

Weites Wunderland ist aufgethan,
Silbern ragen Berge traumhaft gross,
Stille Pfade silberlicht thalan
Aus verborg'nem Schoss.

Und die hehre Welt so traumhaft rein.
Stummer Buchenbaum am Wege steht
Schattenschwarz -- ein Hauch vom fernen Hain
Einsam leise weht.

Und aus tiefen Grundes Düsterheit
Blinken Lichter auf in stummer Nacht.
Trinke Seele! trinke Einsamkeit!
O gieb acht! gieb acht!

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by Carl (Ferdinand Max) Hauptmann (1858 - 1921)
1. Night
Language: English 
The clouds embrown the night and valley;
the mists float above, the water rushing gently.
Now all at once they unveil themselves:
o listen! pay heed!

A broad land of wonder has opened up. 
Silver mountains rise up, fantastically huge,
quiet paths lit with silver [lead] toward the valley
from [some] hidden place;

and the noble world is so dreamily pure.
A mute beech stands by the path,
black with shadows; a breeze from a distant, lonely grove
wafts gently by.

And from the deep darkness of the valley
flash lights in the silent night.
Drink, my soul! Drink in this solitude!
O listen! pay heed!

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: 16
Word count: 106

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Schilflied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf geheimem Waldespfade
Schleich' ich gern im Abendschein
An das öde Schilfgestade,
Mädchen, und gedenke dein!

Wenn sich dann der Busch verdüstert,
Rauscht das Rohr geheimnisvoll,
Und es klaget und es flüstert,
Daß ich weinen, weinen soll.

Und ich mein', ich höre wehen
Leise deiner Stimme Klang,
Und im Weiher untergehen
Deinen lieblichen Gesang.

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. Reed song
Language: English 
Along a secret forest path
I like to creep in the evening light;
I go to the desolate, reedy banks,
and think, my maiden, of you!

As the bushes grow dark,
the reeds hiss mysteriously,
and lament and whisper,
and thus I have to weep and weep.

And I think that I hear wafting
the gentle sound of your voice,
and down into the pond sinks
your lovely song.

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 "Schilflied" = "Reed song"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Die Nachtigall
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das macht, es hat die Nachtigall
Die ganze Nacht gesungen;
Da sind von ihrem süssen Schall,
Da sind in Hall und Widerhall
Die Rosen aufgesprungen.
 
Sie war doch sonst ein wildes Blut,
Nun geht sie tief in Sinnen,
Trägt in der Hand den Sommerhut
Und duldet still 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 Hall und Widerhall
Die Rosen aufgesprungen.

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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
4. Traumgekrönt
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das war der Tag der weißen Chrysanthemen, --
mir bangte fast vor seiner Pracht...
Und dann, dann kamst du mir die Seele nehmen
tief in der Nacht.

Mir war so bang, und du kamst lieb und leise, --
ich hatte grad im Traum an dich gedacht.
Du kamst, und leis wie eine Märchenweise
erklang die Nacht....

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Note: some lines of this poem were used in Zanettovich's Lied (mond - nacht - liebes - traum - lied)

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Crowned by a dream
Language: English 
That was the day of white chrysanthemums;
I almost trembled before its glory...
And then, then you came to me to take my soul
Deep in the night.

I felt so anxious, and you came so lovingly and gently;
I had just been thinking about you in a dream.
You came, and softly, like a fairy tale, 
the night resounded.

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: 60

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Im Zimmer
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Herbstsonnenschein.
Der liebe Abend blickt so still herein.
Ein Feuerlein rot
Knistert im Ofenloch und loht.
So, mein Kopf auf deinen Knie'n,
So ist mir gut.
Wenn mein Auge so in deinem ruht,
Wie leise die Minuten zieh'n.

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by Johannes Schlaf (1862 - 1941)
5. In the chamber
Language: English 
Autumn sunlight.
The lovely evening peers so quietly in.
A little red fire
crackles in the stove and flares up. 
And with my head upon your knee,
I am contented.
When my eyes rest in yours,
how gently do the minutes pass!

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: 42

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Liebesode
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Arm der Liebe schliefen wir selig ein,
Am offnen Fenster lauschte der Sommerwind,
Und unsrer Atemzüge Frieden 
Trug er hinaus in die helle Mondnacht. --

Und aus dem Garten tastete zagend sich 
Ein Rosenduft an unserer Liebe Bett
Und gab uns wundervolle Träume,
Träume des Rausches -- so reich an Sehnsucht!

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by Otto Erich Hartleben (1864 - 1905)
6. Love ode
Language: English 
In the arms of love we fell blissfully asleep;
at the open window the summer wind listened
and carried the peacefulness of our breath 
out into the bright, moonlit night.

And out of the garden, feeling its way randomly,
the scent of roses came to our bed of love
and gave us wonderful dreams,
dreams of intoxication, rich with yearning.

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 "Liebesode" = "Love ode"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Emily Ezust
7. Sommertage
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun ziehen Tage über die Welt,
Gesandt aus blauer Ewigkeit,
Im Sommerwind verweht die Zeit.
Nun windet nächtens der Herr
Sternenkränze mit seliger Hand
Über Wander- und Wunderland.
O Herz, was kann in diesen Tagen
Dein hellstes Wanderlied denn sagen
Von deiner tiefen, tiefen Lust:
Im Wiesensang verstummt die Brust,
Nun schweigt das Wort, wo Bild um Bild
Zu dir zieht und dich ganz erfüllt.

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by Paul Hohenberg (1885 - 1956)
7. Summer days
Language: English 
Now the days drag through the world,
sent forth from blue eternity;
time dissipates in the summer wind.
Now at night the Lord weaves
with blessed hand wreaths of stars 
above the wandering wonderland.
In these days, o my heart, what can
your brightest wanderer's song then say
about your deep, deep pleasure?
In meadowsong the heart falls silent;
now there are no words, and image upon image
visits you and fills you entirely.

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


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Emily Ezust