Songs of Mary

Song Cycle by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

View original-language texts alone: Marienlieder

1. Der englische Gruß
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gegrüßet, Maria, du Mutter der Gnaden!
So sangen die Engel der Jungfrau Maria
In ihrem Gebete, darinnen sie rang.

Maria, du sollst einen Sohn empfangen,
Darnach tun Himmel und Erde verlangen,
Daß du die Mutter des Herren sollst sein.

O Engel, wie mag ich das erleben,
Ich hab mich noch keinem Manne ergeben
In dieser weiten und breiten Welt.

Wie Tau kommt über die Blumenmatten,
So soll dich der heilige Geist überschatten;
So soll der Heiland geboren sein.

Maria die höret solches gerne,
Sie sprach: ich bin eine Magd des Herren,
Nach deinem Worte geschehe mir!

Die Engel sanken auf ihre Knie,
Sie sangen alle: Maria, Maria,
Sie sangen Maria den Lobgesang.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1. The angelic salutation
Language: English 
"Hail, Mary, Mother of grace!"
So the angels were singing to the Virgin Mary
while she was struggling with herself in her prayer.

"Mary, you shall conceive a son!
Heaven and earth are yearning for
you being the Mother of the Lord."

"O Angels, how can I live to see that.
I have not had a husband yet
in this big wide world."

"Like the dew falls upon flower meadows,
the Holy Spirit shall overshadow you,
and the Saviour shall be born."

Mary was delighted at hearing this,
saying, "I am a handmaid of the Lord,
be it done unto me according to thy word!"

The Angels sank to their knees.
They all sang, "Mary, Mary!"
They sang the praises of Mary.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-07-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 122

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Marias Kirchgang
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Maria woll't zur Kirche gehn,
da kam sie an den tiefen See.

Als sie wohl an den See hinkam,
der Schiffmann jung stand fertig da.

"Ach, Schiffmann, schiff mich über das Meer,
ich geb' dir was dein Herz begehrt".

"Ich schiffe dich wohl über das Meer,
wenn du willst meine Hausfrau sein".

Soll ich erst deine Hausfrau sein,
viel lieber schwimm'ich über das Meer".

Als sie wohl in die Mitte kam,
fingen alle Glöcklein zu läuten an.

Sie läuten gross, sie läuten klein,
sie läuteten wohl alle zugleich.

Maria kniet auf einen Stein,
dem Schiffmann sprang sein Herz entzwei.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
2. Mary on her way to church
Language: English 
Mary on her way to church
Was stopped by a deep lake.

When she reached the shore,
A young ferryman stood ready.

"Oh, ferryman, get me across the water,
I'll grant your every wish."

"I will bring you well across the lake
if you will become my wife."

"Rather than become your wife 
I will swim on my own to the other side of the lake."

As soon as she was right in the middle,
All bells started ringing

Be they great or small,
And they sounded all together.

Mary knelt on a boulder,
And the ferryman's heart broke in two.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-07-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 101

Translation © by Linda Godry
3. Marias Wallfahrt
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Maria ging aus wandern,
so fern ins fremde Land,
bis sie Gott den Herren fand.

Sie hat ihn schon gefunden
wohl vor des Herodes Haus,
er sah so betrüblich aus.

Das Kreuz, das musst' er tragen
nach Jerusalem vor die Stadt,
wo er gemartet ward.

Was trug er auf seinem Haupte?
Ein' scharfe Dornenkron';
das Kreuz, das trägt er schon.

Daran soll man bedenken,
ein jeder jung or alt,
dass das Himmelreich
leidet Gewalt!

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
3. Maria's pilgrimage
Language: English 
The holy virgin Mary set off,
A long way from home,
Until she found God the Lord!

She did find him,
In front of Herodes' house,
And he looked oh so pitiful.

He had the cross to bear
All the way to the city of Jerusalem,
Where he was to be tortured.

What was he wearing on his head?
A crown of thorns, so sharp,
Adding to his burden, the cross.

That's what you should never forget,
You be young or old,
That even the Kingdom of heaven
suffers from brute force.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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: 2008-02-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Linda Godry
4. Der Jäger
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es wollt' gut Jäger jagen,
wollt' jagen von Himmelshöhn;
was begegn't ihm auf der Heiden?
Maria, die Jungfrau schön.

Der Jäger, den ich meine,
der ist uns wohlbekannt,
er jagt mit einem Engel,
Gabriel ist er genannt.

Der Engel blies sein Hörnlein,
das laut' sich also wohl:
"Gegrüsst seist du, Maria,
du bist aller Gnaden voll!

Gegrüsst seist du, Maria,
du edle Jungfrau fein!
Dein Schoß soll hegen und tragen
ein Kindlein zart und klein.

Dein Schoß soll hegen und tragen
ein Kindlein zart und klein,
das Himmel und auch Erden
einmals wird nehmen ein".

Maria, die vielreine,
fiel nieder auf ihre Knie,
dann sie bat Gott von Himmel,
sein Will' geschehen soll.

Dein Will', der soll geschehen
ohn sonder Pein und Schmerz.
Da empfing sie Jesum Christum
in ihr jungfräulich Herz.

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4. The hunter
Language: English 
A good hunter wished to go hunting -
to go hunting from the heights of heaven;
What should he come across upon the heath?
Mary, the lovely Virgin.

The hunter that I mean
is well known to us;
He hunts with an angel -
Gabriel is his name.

The angel blew his little horn,
that rang out so well:
"Greetings to you, Mary,
You are full of grace!

"Greetings to you, Mary,
noble and pretty maiden!
Your womb will nourish and carry
a child tender and small.

Your womb will nourish and carry
a child tender and small,
who shall win over 
both Heaven and Earth."

Mary the Pure
fell upon her knees
and prayed to God in Heaven
that His will would be done.

Thy will shall be done
without special pain and sorrow.
She then conceived Jesus Christ
in her maiden heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-07-23
Line count: 28
Word count: 142

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Ruf zur Maria
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dich, Mutter Gottes, ruf' wir an,
bitt' für uns, Maria!
Tu' uns in Ängsten nicht verlan,
Jesum, dein Sohn, der Not ermahn,
die er um menschlich Geschlecht wollte han,
bitt' für uns, Maria!

Dass wir vollkommen werden gar,
bitt für uns, Maria!
Leib, Ehr' und Gut auf Erd' bewahr',
dass wir in Zeit viel guter Jahr'
dort leben mit der Engel Schar,
bitt' für uns, Maria!

Du bist der Brunn, der nicht verseicht,
bitt' für uns, Maria!
Dass uns der heilig Geist erleucht
zu wahrer Reu und ganzer Beicht!
Jesus, dein Sohn, dir nicht verzeicht,
bitt' für uns, Maria!

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
5. Implore to Mary
Language: English 
To you, mother of God, we call,
Pray for us, Mary!
Don't leave us alone in our sorrows,
do remind Jesus, your son, of the agony he went through
On behalf of mankind.
Pray for us, Mary!

In our strivings for perfection,
Pray for us, Mary!
Save our body, honour and earthly goods
So that we, after many good years
Can live together with the angels,
Pray for us, Mary!

You are the well that never runs dry,
Pray for us, Mary!
That the Holy Spirit may enlighten us
to true repentance and complete confession!
Jesus, your son would want you to
Pray for us, Mary!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-07-26
Line count: 18
Word count: 106

Translation © by Linda Godry
6. Magdalena
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An dem österlichen Tag
Maria Magdalena ging zu dem Grab;
was fand sie in dem Grabe stehn?
Einen Engel wohlgetan.

Der Engel grüsst sie in der Zeit:
"Den da suchet das vielselige Weib,
er ist erstanden von dem Tod,
den du salben wolltest".

"Maria!" ruft er ihr zu hant,
da erkennt sie ihren Heiland,
sie sah in aller der Gebärde,
sann er ein Wärter wäre.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
6. Magdalene
Language: English 
On easter day
Mary Magdalene visited the grave;
What did she find there by the side?
A beautiful angel.

The angel addressed her:
The one you seek, blessed woman,
to annoint him with spices,
he was resurrected from death.

As he calls her by her name "Mary!",
she recognises him for her saviour,
and now by his gestures too
she knows he is not a guardian.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-07-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 66

Translation © by Linda Godry
7. Marias Lob
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Maria, wahre Himmelsfreud',
der Welt Ergötzlichkeit!
Wer wollt' dich nicht lieben?
Du stehst mir geschrieben,
ja mir gegraben
mit tiefen Buchstaben
in meinem Herzelein!

Wie schmelzet ein Karfunkelstein
im Lorbeerkränzelein,
so geht es mir eben,
mein' Seel' und mein Leben
vor Lieb' sich zertrennen
und in sich verbrennen
bei deinem Nennen!

Der ganzen Schöpfung reiche Zier
vergleicht sich nicht mit dir.
Es dürfen die Blumen
ihr' Schönheit nicht rühmen,
sie müssen sich schämen,
du tuest benehmen
all' ihre Zierlichkeit.

Des Himmels Sternenangesicht
und aller Sonnen Licht,
samt Edelgesteinen,
sie dürfen nicht scheinen,
die Perlen, Korallen,
Gold, Silber, sie fallen
vor dir in Finsternis.

Maria, o mein' höchste Freud',
die Welt ist mir verleidt,
ich suche zu sterben;
du woll'st mir erwerben
nur Gottes Gnaden,
auf höheren Pfaden
so scheid' ich fröhlich hin.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
7. Praised be Mary
Language: English 
Mary, true friend of heaven,
The world's delight!
Who could but love you?
Your name is written,
No, engraved, 
with deep lines
in my heart!

As a gemstone melts
In the laurel wreath,
So are my very
Soul and body
So full of love
They burst into pieces
And burn in your name!

Creation in all its splendour
Pales in comparison to you.
Your beauty shames
The flower's blossoms
Who look plump 
compared to 
your frailness.

The star-spangled night sky
And the combined light of all the suns,
And precious stones,
Can not outshine thee,
The pearls, corals,
Gold, and silver dull
Compared to you.

Mary, my heart's delight,
The world means nothing to me,
And I wish to die;
If you, only you, ask for God's grace
For my safe ramble
On heavenly paths
I will leave here with joyous heart.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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: 2009-07-26
Line count: 35
Word count: 142

Translation © by Linda Godry