Serious Songs

Song Cycle by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962)

View original-language texts alone: Ernste Gesänge

1. Vorspiel und Spruch
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Viele versuchten umsonst
das Freudigste freudig zu sagen,
Hier spricht endlich es mir,
hier in der Trauer sich aus.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
1. Prelude and motto
Language: English 
Many have tried, but in vain,
  With joy to express the most joyful;
    Here at last, in grave sadness,
      Wholly I find it expressed.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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: 2005-02-20
Line count: 4
Word count: 24

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
2. Asyl
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In seiner Fülle ruhet der Herbsttag nun,
Geläutert ist die Traub und der Hain ist rot
Vom Obst, wenn schon der holden Blüten
Manche der Erde zum Danke fielen.

Und rings im Felde, wo ich den Pfad hinaus,
Den stillen, wandle, ist den Zufriedenen
Ihr Gut gereift und viel der frohen
Mühe gewähret der Reichtum ihnen.

 ... 

Und leuchtest du, o Goldnes, auch mir, und wehst
Auch du mir wieder, Lüftchen, als segnetest
Du eine Freude mir, wie einst, und
Irrst, wie um Glückliche, mir am Busen?

 ... 

Beglückt, wer, ruhig liebend ein frommes Weib,
 ... 

 ... 

Doch heute laß mich stille den trauten Pfad
Zum Haine gehn, dem golden die Wipfel schmückt
Sein sterbend Laub, und kränzt auch mir die
Stirne, ihr holden Erinnerungen!

Und daß mir auch, zu retten mein sterblich Herz,
Wie andern eine bleibende Stätte sei,
 ... 

Sei du, Gesang, mein freundlich Asyl!  ... 
 ... 

 ...

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
2. Refuge
Language: English 
At rest in fullness, calm lies the autumn day,
  The mellow grape is clear and the orchard red
    With fruit, though many treasured blossoms
      Long ago fell to the Earth in tribute.

And all around where now by the quiet path
  I cross the field, for satisfied men their crops
    Have ripened, and their riches grant them
      Hour after hour of rewarding labor.

[ ... ]

And, golden light, for me will you also shine,
  And, breeze, once more for me waft, as though
    To bless a joy, and still around me wander,
  err.

[ ... ]

      Blessed he with a worthy homeland and hearth.
[ ... ]

[ ... ]

 Today, though, let me walk the familiar path
  In silence to the copse that is crowned with gold
    Of dying leaves; and my brow also
      Garland with gold now, you recollections.

And that I may have, 
 as others, a sure retreat,
[ ... ]

  You be my gracious refuge now, song.
[ ... ]

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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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Translation of title "Asyl" = "Refuge"


This text was added to the website: 2005-02-20
Line count: 52
Word count: 147

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
3. Traurigkeit
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wer traurig sein will, wird vielleicht mich lesen,
Und er wird denken zwischen den Zeilen:
"Ja, traurig ist auch dieser Mensch gewesen.
Aber kann seine Traurigkeit die meine heilen?"
 
Ich will dich nicht über die Gründe fragen
Der Traurigkeit, du Mensch der besseren Zeiten.
Die meine wird dir die Geschichte sagen,
Die Jahresdaten meiner Traurigkeiten.

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by Berthold Viertel (1885 - 1953)
3. Sadness
Language: English 
Whoever wishes to be sad might read me
And he will think between the lines:
Yes, this person has also been sad,
But can my sadness heal his?

You should ask about the reasons for sadness,
You of better times.
History will tell you of mine,
The dates of my sadness.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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: 2005-02-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
4. Verzweiflung
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 





Nichts gibt's, was würdig wäre 
deiner Bemühungen, und keinen Seufzer verdient 
die Erde. Schmerz und Langeweile
sind unser Los, und Schmutz die Welt, nichts andres. 
Beruhige dich.

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by Robert Hamerling (1830 - 1889)
4. Despair
Language: English 
There is nothing worthy of your efforts
And the earth doesn't deserve a sigh.
Pain and boredom are our lot
And the world is dirt, nothing more.
Be calm.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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: 2005-02-20
Line count: 5
Word count: 29

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
5. Hoffnung
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Hoffnung! holde, gütiggeschäftige!
  Die du das Haus der Trauernden nicht verschmähst,
    Und gerne dienend zwischen
      Sterblichen waltest.

Wo bist du? wenig lebt' ich; doch atmet kalt
  Mein Abend schon. Und stille, den Schatten gleich,
    Bin ich schon hier; und schon gesanglos
      Schlummert das schaudernde Herz.

 ...

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
5. Hope
Language: English 
O hope! lovely, benevolently active one!
  You, who does not eschew the house of those who mourn,
    And gladly [serving, noble one!]1 have your workings
      Between [mortals and the powers of heaven,]2 

Where are you? I have lived only a little while; but already
  My evening breathes coldly. And quietly, like the shadows,
    I am already here; and, already songless,
      My shuddering heart [slumbers in my breast]3.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"An die Hoffnung" = "To hope"
"Hoffnung" = "Hope"

1 Eisler: "serving"
2 Eisler: "mortals."
3 Eisler: "slumbers"


This text was added to the website: 2024-05-08
Line count: 20
Word count: 164

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. [XX]. Parteitag
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich halte dich in meinem Arm umfangen,
Wie ein Saatkorn ist die Hoffnung aufgegangen.
Wird sich nun der Traum erfüllen,
derer die ihr Leben gaben für das kaum erträumte Glück.
Leben ohne Angst zu haben, leben ohne Angst zu haben.

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by Helmut Richter
6. Twentieth Party Congress
Language: English 
I hold you in my arm.
Like a seed, hope has sprouted.
Will the dream now be fulfilled
Of those who gave their lives
For the barely dreamed-of happiness:
To live without anxiety.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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: 2005-02-20
Line count: 6
Word count: 33

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
7. Komm ins Offene Freund
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Komm! ins Offene, Freund! zwar glänzt ein Weniges heute
Nur herunter und eng schließet der Himmel uns ein.
 ... 
Trüb ists heut, es schlummern die Gäng' und die Gassen und fast will
Mir es scheinen, es sei, als in der bleiernen Zeit.
 ... 

Denn nicht Mächtiges ists, zum Leben aber gehört es,
Was wir wollen, und scheint schicklich und freudig zugleich.
Aber kommen doch auch der segenbringenden Schwalben
Immer einige noch, ehe der Sommer, ins Land.
 ... 
Möge der Zimmermann vom Gipfel des Daches den Spruch tun,
Wir, so gut es gelang, haben das Unsre getan.

 ...

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
7. Come into the clearing, friend
Language: English 
Come into the clearing, friend, though little shines
 here below today, and tightly the heavens enclose us.

It is dim today, the alleys are slumbering.
  It seems to be a leaden time.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp, (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: 2005-02-20
Line count: 9
Word count: 73

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp
8. Epilog
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nahe schon ist der Herbst
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.
© by Stephan Hermlin (1915 - 1997)
8. Epilogue
Language: English 
Fall is near. Near in the fall of fruit is
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Dr. Anthony Krupp

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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.

This text was added to the website: 2005-02-20
Line count: 15
Word count: 121

Translation © by Dr. Anthony Krupp