Drei Lieder

Song Cycle by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)

View original-language texts alone: Three Songs

1. Constancy
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Old lilac bushes thin and grey
In wistful longing sigh
Dishevelled roses blush in vain;
No mistress lingers by.
The tansy creeps e'en to the door
Through garden tangles sweet
Gaunt apple trees their wizened fruit,
Strew at the master's feet;
And lo! a cricket bravely chirps
Throughout the lonely house,
But those who lov'd there long ago;
They sleep too deep to 'rouse.
Yet keep, O keep your trust to heart,
'Twill never last now long:
For house and ye shall pass away,
Yea! even as my song, my song.

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)
1. Beständigkeit
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Alte Fliederbüsche licht und fahl
Seufzen in wehmütigem Sehnen
Zerzauste Rosen erröten umsonst;
Da keine Hausherrin sie bewundert.
Der Rainfarn drängt sich bis ans Haus
Zwischen süß duftenden Ranken hin
Hagere Apfelbäume streuen ihre verschrumpelten Früchte
ihren Besitzern zu Füßen:
Und horch! Eine standhafte Grille zirpt
Ihr Lied noch durch das verlassne Haus,
Doch jene, die sich dort einst liebten;
Sie schlafen einen tiefen Schlaf.
Und doch, und doch bewahr dein ruhiges Vertrauen,
das es nicht lange währet mehr:
Bis jenes Haus und du vergehen,
Ja, sogar mein Lied, mein Lied.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2008 by Linda Godry, (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: 2008-07-23
Line count: 16
Word count: 91

Translation © by Linda Godry
2. Sunrise
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
Sunrise gilds the crested sea
That mocks grim Oban's might
But at his feet sways sullenly
A ship that died 'the night.

The ocean's breast doth throb no more
For such a wreck as she.
The rocks gnaw at her broken heart;
The sun shines pit'lessly.

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)
2. Sonnenaufgang
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die aufgehende Sonne vergoldet die Meereswellen
Die Obans Macht verhöhnen
Doch zu seinen Füßen schaukelt mürrisch
Ein Schiff, dass starb in der Nacht.

Des Ozeans Brust schlägt nicht länger
Für sie, ein schäbiges Wrack.
Die Felsen nagen an ihrem gebrochenen Herzen;
Die Sonne brennt gnadenlos herab.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2008 by Linda Godry, (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: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2008-07-23
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Linda Godry
3. Merry Maiden Spring
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
A winsome morning measure
Trips merry maiden Spring,
O'er daffodils and daisies,
To crown the Summer king.

And once the king is crowned,
And twilight 'gins to fall,
Brown Autumn slips the postern gate
At grim old Winter's call.

But soon the rosy morning
With joyous songs shall ring
And daffodils and daisies
Will welcome merry Spring.

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)
3. Die fröhliche Maid "Frühling"
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der erste einnehmend schöne Morgen
Lässt die fröhliche Maid "Frühling"
Über Narzissen und Gänseblümchen trippeln,
Den Sommerkönig zu krönen.

Und kaum ist er dann gekrönt,
und die Dämmerung sinkt herab,
schlüpft der braune Herbst durch die Hintertür
auf Befehl des grimmen Winters.

Doch bald kommt ein rosiger Morgen
Mit seinem Freudensang
Und Narzissen und Gänseblümchen
Werden wieder die fröhliche Maid "Frühling" willkommen heißen!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2008 by Linda Godry, (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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2008-07-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Linda Godry