Songs on the death of children (singable)

Translations © by David Paley

Song Cycle by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)

View original-language texts alone: Kindertotenlieder

1. Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn,
Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht geschehn!
Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein!
Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein!

Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken,
Mußt sie ins ew'ge Licht versenken!
Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt!
Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt!

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1. Now would the sun so brightly shine
Language: English 
Now would the sun so brightly shine
As if misfortune had not occurred.
That mishap has struck just me alone
But sunlight still shines upon us all.

Do not let the night be locked within you
It must be sunk in light eternal;
The lamplight has gone from my domain;
Praised be the bright and joyful world.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com


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Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by David Paley
2. Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
Ihr sprühtet mir in manchem Augenblicke.
O Augen, gleichsam, um voll in einem Blicke
Zu drängen eure ganze Macht zusammen.

Doch ahnt' ich nicht, weil Nebel mich umschwammen,
Gewoben vom verblendenden Geschicke,
Daß sich der Strahl bereits zur Heimkehr schicke,
Dorthin, von wannen alle Strahlen stammen.

Ihr wolltet mir mit eurem Leuchten sagen:
Wir möchten nah dir  ...  bleiben gerne!
Doch ist uns das vom Schicksal abgeschlagen.

Sieh'  ...  uns nur an, denn bald sind wir dir ferne!
Was dir nur Augen sind in diesen Tagen:
In künft'gen Nächten sind es dir nur Sterne.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
2. Now do I see with what such darkened beacons
Language: English 
Now do I see with what such darkened beacons
You flash to me in all those many moments.
Those eyes are, as if, within those ample glances,
Compressing your unbroken might together.

Yet had I known, in foggy days enveloped, 
All woven from my lack of understanding,
That such a ray consoled their homeward journey
To there, the source of all the streaming splendour.

You wanted to tell me with flashing glances:
So gladly would you have us near you.
But that is barred by fateful intervention.

So look at us, for soon we will be distant.
What now those eyes are, seen in day's resplendence,
Will nights in future show to you as starlight.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com


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Line count: 14
Word count: 115

Translation © by David Paley
3. Wenn dein Mütterlein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn dein Mütterlein 
tritt zur Tür herein,
Und den Kopf ich drehe, 
ihr entgegen sehe,
Fällt auf ihr Gesicht 
erst der Blick mir nicht,
Sondern auf die Stelle, 
näher nach der Schwelle,
Dort, wo würde dein 
lieb Gesichten sein,
Wenn du freudenhelle
trätest mit herein,
Wie sonst, mein Töchterlein.

Wenn dein Mütterlein 
tritt zur Tür herein,
Mit der Kerze Schimmer,
ist es mir, als immer
Kämst du mit herein,
huschtest hinterdrein,
Als wie sonst ins Zimmer!
O du, des Vaters Zelle,
Ach, zu schnell
erloschner Freudenschein!

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
3. When your mother dear
Language: English 
When your mother dear
Entered through the door
And my head was turning 
There to see her coming, 
Falling not at first
There upon her face
But a little lower
Nearer to the threshold
Where one would find your
Dearest face to be
When, with joy so brightly,
You would step inside
As oft, my daughter dear.

When your mother dear
Entered through the door
With her candle glowing,
I still think as ever
That you would also
Hurry right behind
Here into the parlour.
But you, your father's cloister,
Were too quickly, too soon
Extinguished with his joy.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com


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Line count: 23
Word count: 99

Translation © by David Paley
4. Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen,
Bald werden sie wieder nach Hause gelangen,
Der Tag ist schön, o sei nicht bang,
Sie machen nur einen weiten Gang.

Ja wohl, sie sind nur ausgegangen,
Und werden jetzt nach Hause gelangen,
O, sei nicht bang, der Tag ist schön,
Sie machen nur den Gang zu jenen Höh'n.

Sie sind uns nur voraus gegangen,
Und werden nicht wieder nach Hause verlangen,
Wir holen sie ein auf jenen Höh'n
Im Sonnenschein, der Tag is schön auf jenen Höh'n.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
4. I think they have gone for just a moment
Language: English 
I think they have gone for just a moment
Soon will they be reaching back homewards in safety
The day is fine. Oh, have no fear:
They merely go on a longer walk.

Indeed, they have but just gone out now,
And will be here at home in a moment
Oh, have no fear, the day is fine;
They merely go to walk on yonder heights.

They have gone out but all too early,
Unable now to find their house and return here.
We'll overtake them on yonder heights
In sun and shine, the day is fine on yonder heights.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com


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This text was added to the website: 2012-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 100

Translation © by David Paley
5. In diesem Wetter
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
Man hat sie getragen hinaus,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen!

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus,
Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus,
Ich fürchtete sie erkranken;
Das sind nun eitle Gedanken.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus,
Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus;
Ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen,
Das ist nun nicht zu besorgen.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus!
Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus!
Man hat sie hinaus getragen,
ich durfte nichts dazu sagen!

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus,
Sie ruh'n als wie in der Mutter Haus,
Von keinem Sturm erschrecket,
Von Gottes Hand bedecket.

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by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
5. In awful weather
Language: English 
In awful weather, in dreadful storm
Ne'er would I be sending the children outside
Now, have they been taken from here
And not a word said against it!

In awful weather, in dreadful gale
Ne'er would I be letting the children go out
I feared that they might be stricken;
But now, how idle those thoughts are.

In awful weather, so full of dread
Ne'er would I be letting the children go out
I cared they might die tomorrow;
That is now not to be cared for. 

In awful weather, so full of dread
Ne'er would I be sending the children outside
But from here have they been taken
And not a word said against it!

In this bad weather, in dreadful gale, in fearsome blast
They rest as though they were safely home
Where no bad storm can frighten,
By godly hands protected.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com


    If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:


Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2012-08-15
Line count: 20
Word count: 144

Translation © by David Paley