Naomi Schlegel: Lyrics and Translations

April 23, 2025

Set One: Serenity

Frühlingsstimmen Op. 410

by Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)

Die Lerche in blaue Höh entschwebt,
der Tauwind weht so lau;
sein wonniger milder Hauch belebt
und küßt das Feld, die Au.
Der Frühling in holder Pracht erwacht,
ah alle Pein zu End mag sein,
alles Leid, entflohn ist es weit!
Schmerz wird milder, frohe Bilder,
Glaub an Glück kehrt zurück;
Sonnenschein, ah dringt nun ein,
ah, alles lacht, ach, ach, erwacht!

Da strömt auch der Liederquell,
der zu lang schon schien zu schweigen;
klingen hört dort wieder rein und hell
süße Stimmen aus den Zweigen!
Ah leis' läßt die Nachtigall
schon die ersten Töne hören,
um die Kön'gin nicht zu stören,
schweigt, ihr Sänger all!
Voller schon klingt bald ihr süßer Ton.
Ach ja bald, ah, ah ja bald!
Ah, ah, ah, ah!

O Sang der Nachtigall, holder Klang, ah ja!
Sehnsucht und Lust
ah ah ah wohnt in der Brust,
ah, wenn ihr Sang lockt so bang,
funkelnd ferne wie Sterne,
ah ah zauberschimmernd wie des Mondes Strahl,
ah ah ah ah wallt durchs Tal!
Licht kommt sie künden,
Schatten entschwinden! ah!

Ah des Frühlings Stimmen klingen traut,
ah ja, ah ja ah o süßer Laut,
ah ah ah ah ach ja!

Translation: Spring Voices

The lark rises into the blue heights,
the warm wind blows softly;
its blissful mild breath revives
and kisses the fields and meadows.
Spring awakens in beauteous splendour,
let all suffering now end,
all grief has flown far away!
Sorrow grows fainter as joyful sights
and a belief in happiness return.
Sunlight, now break through!
Everything laughs, everything awakens!

A stream of songs is flowing
which for too long has seemed silent.
From the branches we again hear
sweet voices, pure and clear!
Ah, the nightingale
sounds its first notes, softly,
so as not to disturb the queen.
Hush, all you singers!
Soon her sweet song will sound more fully,
soon, oh soon!
Ah........
Song of the nightingale, fair sound!
Glowing with love,
Longing and desire
dwell in my breast
when her song entices so anxiously,
sparkling like stars from afar,
shimmering magically like moonlight,
Echoing through the valley!
heralding daylight
as shadows recede! Ah!

Ah, spring’s voices sound, so familiar,
Ah yes, sweet sound,
Ah, yes!

Frühlingsglaube D. 686

by Franz Schubert (1797-1899)

Die linden Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie säuseln und weben Tag und Nacht,
Sie schaffen an allen Enden.
O frischer Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun, armes Herze, sei nicht bang!
Nun muss sich Alles, Alles wenden.

Die Welt wird schöner mit jedem Tag,
Man weiss nicht, was noch werden mag,
Das Blühen will nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, tiefste Tal:
Nun, armes Herz, vergiss der Qual!
Nun muss sich Alles, Alles wenden.

Translation: Spring Faith

Balmy breezes are awakened;
they stir and whisper day and night,
everywhere creative.
O fresh scents, O new sounds!
Now, poor heart, do not be afraid.
Now all must change.

The world grows fairer each day;
we cannot know what is still to come;
the flowering knows no end.
The deepest, most distant valley is in flower.
Now, poor heart, forget your torment.
Now all must change.

Le papillon et la fleur Op. 1

by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

La pauvre fleur disait au papillon céleste:
Ne fuis pas!
Vois comme nos destins sont différents. Je reste,
Tu t’en vas!

Pourtant nous nous aimons, nous vivons sans les hommes
Et loin d’eux,
Et nous nous ressemblons, et l’on dit que nous sommes
Fleurs tous deux!

Mais, hélas! l’air t’emporte et la terre m’enchaîne.
Sort cruel!
Je voudrais embaumer ton vol de mon haleine
Dans le ciel!

Mais non, tu vas trop loin! – Parmi des fleurs sans nombre
Vous fuyez,
Et moi je reste seule à voir tourner mon ombre
À mes pieds.

Tu fuis, puis tu reviens; puis tu t’en vas encore
Luire ailleurs.
Aussi me trouves-tu toujours à chaque aurore
Toute en pleurs!

Oh! pour que notre amour coule des jours fidèles,
Ô mon roi,
Prends comme moi racine, ou donne-moi des ailes
Comme à toi!

Translation: The Butterfly and the Flower

The humble flower said to the heavenly butterfly:
Do not flee!
See how our destinies differ. Fixed to earth am I,
You fly away!

Yet we love each other, we live without men
And far from them,
And we are so alike, it is said that both of us
Are flowers!

But alas! The breeze bears you away, the earth holds me fast.
Cruel fate!
I would perfume your flight with my fragrant breath
In the sky!

But no, you flit too far! Among countless flowers
You fly away,
While I remain alone, and watch my shadow circle
Round my feet.

You fly away, then return; then take flight again
To shimmer elsewhere.
And so you always find me at each dawn
Bathed in tears!

Ah, that our love might flow through faithful days,
O my king,
Take root like me, or give me wings
Like yours!

Villanelle

by Eva dell’Acqua (1856-1930)

J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle
Dans le ciel pur du matin:
Elle allait, à tire-d'aile,
Vers le pays où l'appelle
Le soleil et le jasmin.
J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle!
J'ai longtemps suivi des yeux
Le vol de la voyageuse...
Depuis, mon âme rêveuse
L'accompagne par les cieux.
Ah! ah! au pays mystérieux!
Et j'aurais voulu comme elle
Suivre le même chemin...
J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle

Translation: Villanelle

I have seen the swallow fly over
In the clear morning sky:
She was flying by wing
To the land to which she is called
By the sun and the jasmine.
I have seen the swallow fly over!
I have followed for a long time with my eyes
The flight of the traveller...
Since then, my dreaming soul
accompanies her through the skies.
Ah! ah! to the mysterious land!
And I would have wished like her
to follow the same path...
I have seen the swallow fly over

Set Two: Sehnsucht

Erlafsee D. 586

by Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Mir ist so wohl, so weh
Am stillen Erlafsee;
Heilig Schweigen
In Fichtenzweigen,
Regungslos
Der blaue Schoß,
Nur der Wolken Schatten flieh'n
Über'm glatten Spiegel hin,

Frische Winde
Kräuseln linde
Das Gewässer
Und der Sonne
Güldne Krone
Flimmert blässer.

Mir ist so wohl, so weh
Am stillen Erlafsee.

Translation: Lake Erlaf

I feel so happy, so sad
By quiet Lake Erlaf:
Sacred silence
In the pine branches.
Motionless
The blue depths;
Only cloud shadows flit
Across the glassy surface.

Fresh breezes
Gently ruffle
The water;
And the sun’s
Golden crown
Grows paler.

I feel so happy, so sad
By quiet Lake Erlaf.

Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume

by Rudolf Sieczyński (1756-1791)

Mein Herz und mein Sinn
schwärmt stets nur für Wien,
für Wien, wie es weint, wie es lacht,
da kenn ich mich aus,
da bin ich halt z'haus
bei Tag und noch mehr bei der Nacht,
und keiner bleibt kalt,
ob jung oder alt,
der Wien wie es wirklich ist, kennt.
Müßt einmal ich fort
von dem schönen Ort,
da nähm' meine Sehnsucht kein End.
Dann hört ich aus weiter Ferne ein Lied,
das klingt und singt, das lockt und zieht:

Wien, Wien, nur du allein
sollst stets die Stadt meiner Träume sein,
dort wo die alten Häuser stehn
dort wo die lieblichen Mädchen gehn,
Wien, Wien, nur du allein
sollst stets die Stadt meiner Träume sein,
dort wo ich glücklich und selig bin,
ist Wien, ist Wien, ist Wien!

Ob ich will oder net
nur hoff ich, recht spät,
muß ich einmal fort von der Welt.
Geschieden muß sein,
von der Liebe und Wein
weil alles, wie' s kommt, auch vergeht
Ah, das wird ganz schön,
ich brauch ja nicht z'gehn,
ich flieg doch in'Himmel hinauf,
dort setz ich mich hin,
schau runter auf Wien,
der Steffel, der grüßt ja hinauf.

Translation: Vienna, City of My Dreams

My heart and my mind
is so full of Vienna
for Vienna as it weeps, as it laughs
that's where I know my way,
that's where I'm at home
by day and even more at night
and no one is untouched
be he young, be he old
who knows Vienna as it really is.
Would I have to leave
this beautiful place
my yearning would never end.
Then I would hear an imaginary, faraway song,
that sounds and sings, that entices and draws me.
Vienna, Vienna you alone
will always be the city of my dreams,
there, where the cute old houses are,
there, where the lovely girls walk.
Vienna, Vienna you alone
will always be the city of my dreams
there, where I am happy and delirious
is Vienna, is Vienna, my Vienna.
Whether I want it or not -
I only hope it comes late -,
once I will have to leave this world.
I will have part
from love and wine,
as, whatever you gain, you loose.
But, it will be quite alright
I won't have to go far,
I will fly right into heaven.
Where I will sit,
and watch Vienna from above,
and see the St. Stephan's church greeting me.

Ridente la calma K. 152

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Ridente la calma nell'alma si desti;
Né resti più segno di sdegno e timor.

Tu vieni, frattanto, a stringer mio bene,
Le dolce catene sí grate al mio cor.

Ridente la calma nell'alma si desti;
Né resti un segno di sdegno e timor.

Translation: A Happy Calm

May a happy calm arise in my soul
and may neither a bit of anger nor fear survive in it.

In the meantime you are coming, my beloved, to grasp
those sweet chains that make my heart so grateful.

May a happy calm arise in my soul
and may neither anger nor fear survive in it.

La pastorella delle alpi

by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1791)
From Soirées Musicales

Son bella pastorella,
Che scende ogni mattino
Ed offre un cestellino
Di fresche frutta e fior.

Chi viene al primo albore
Avrà vezzose rose
E poma rugiadose,
Venite al mio giardin.

Chi nel notturno orrore
Smarrì la buona via,
Alla capanna mia
Ritroverà il cammin.

Venite, o passaggiero,
La pastorella è qua,
Ma il fior del suo pensiero
Ad uno sol darà!

Translation: The Alpine Shepherdess

I am the pretty shepherdess,
Who comes down every morning,
Offering a little basket
Of fresh fruit and flowers.

Those who come at first light
Will find delightful roses
And apples damp with dew,
Come all to my garden.

Those who lost their way
In the horror of the night,
Will find their path once more
At my little cabin.

Come, oh passing traveller,
The shepherdess is here,
Yet the flower of her thoughts
She will give to one and one alone!

Abendempfindung K. 523

by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Abend ist’s, die Sonne ist verschwunden,
Und der Mond strahlt Silberglanz;
So entflieh’n des Lebens schönste Stunden,
Flieh’n vorüber wie im Tanz!

Bald entflieht des Lebens bunte Szene,
Und der Vorhang rollt herab.
Aus ist unser Spiel! Des Freundes Träne
Fließet schon auf unser Grab.

Bald vielleicht mir weht, wie Westwind leise,
Eine stille Ahnung zu –
Schließ’ ich dieses Lebens Pilgerreise,
Fliege in das Land der Ruh’.

Werdet ihr dann an meinem Grabe weinen,
Trauernd meine Asche seh’n,
Dann, o Freunde, will ich euch erscheinen
Und will Himmel auf euch weh’n.

Schenk’ auch du ein Tränchen mir
Und pflücke mir ein Veilchen auf mein Grab;
Und mit deinem seelenvollen Blicke
Sieh’ dann sanft auf mich herab.

Weih mir eine Träne, und ach!
Schäme dich nur nicht, sie mir zu weih’n,
Oh, sie wird in meinem Diademe
Dann die schönste Perle sein.

Translation: Evening Sensation

It is evening, the sun has vanished,
And the moon sheds its silver light;
So life’s sweetest hours speed by,
Flit by as in a dance!

Soon life’s bright pageant will be over,
And the curtain will fall.
Our play is ended! Tears wept by a friend
Flow already on our grave.

Soon perhaps, like a gentle zephyr,
A silent presentiment will reach me,
And I shall end this earthly pilgrimage,
Fly to the land of rest.

If you then weep by my grave
And gaze mourning on my ashes,
Then, dear friends, I shall appear to you
Bringing a breath of heaven.

May you too shed a tear for me
And pluck a violet for my grave;
And let your compassionate gaze
Look tenderly down on me.

Consecrate a tear to me and ah!
Be not ashamed to do so;
In my diadem it shall become
The fairest pearl of all.

Set Three: Affinity

Il bacio

by Luigi Arditi (1822-1903)

Sulle labbra se potessi
dolce un bacio ti darei.
Tutte ti direi le dolcezze dell'amor.
Sempre assisa te d'appresso,
mille gaudii ti direi, Ah! ti direi.
Ed i palpiti udirei
che rispondono al mio cor.
Gemme e perle non desio,
non son vaga d'altro affetto.
Un tuo sguardo è il mio diletto,
un tuo bacio è il mio tesor.
Ah! Vieni! ah vien! più non tardare a me!
Ah vien! nell'ebbrezza d'un amplesso
ch'io viva!
Ah!

Translation: A Kiss

If I could only give you
a kiss on your lips,
It would tell you all the delights of love,
Abiding to speak
a thousand joys to you!
Ah, thus it would speak
to you along with my heart's palpitations.
I do not desire gems or pearls,
nor do I seek others' affections.
Your look is my delight,
your kiss is my treasure.
Ah! Come! Do not delay!
Ah! Come! Let us enjoy love's
life-giving intoxication.
Ah!

Je t’aime

by Isabelle Aboulker (b. 1938)

Ah je t'aime !
Mon amant me délaisse
Il ne veut plus de moi !
Je me jette à ses genoux, je pleure, je défaille !
Je me jette à ses genoux mais il reste de marbre
Mon amant ne veut plus de moi !
Pourtant je l'aime ! Que je l'aime !
Je l'aime, je l'aime tant !
Mmm que je t'aime ! T'aime…
Quand même… je t'aime !

Translation: I Love You

Ah I love you!
My lover leaves me
He doesn’t want me anymore!
I throw myself at his knees, I cry, I faint!
I throw myself at hisb feet but he remains of marble
My lover doesn’t want me anymore
Yet I love it! I like it!
I love him, I love him so much!
I love you, I love you
Still....I love you!

Set Four: Belonging

From Love Songs: Volume 1 by Matthew Emery (b. 1991)

I. Come when the pale moon like a petal floats by Matthew Emery (b. 1991)

Come, when the pale moon like a petal floats
In the pearly dusk of spring
Come, with arms outstretched to take me
Come, with lips pursed up to cling
Come, for life is a frail moth flying
Caught in the web of the years that pass
And soon, we two, so warm and eager
Will be as the gray stones in the grass

IV. When I Am Gone

by Matthew Emery (b. 1991)

It will not change now
After so many years
Life has not broken it
With parting or tears
Death will not alter it
It will live on in all my songs
For you
When I am gone

V. Gifts

by Matthew Emery (b. 1991)

I gave my first love laughter
I gave my second tears
I gave my third love silence, through all the years
My first love gave me singing
My second eyes to see
But oh, it was my third love
Who gave my soul to me

Guide Me Home

by Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) and Mike Moran (b. 1948)

Now the wind has lost my sail
Now the scent has left my trail
Who will find me, take care and side with me
Guide me back safely to my home
Where I belong, once more

Where is my star in heaven's bough
Where is my strength, I need it now
Who can save me, lead me to my destiny
Guide me back safely to my home
Where I belong, once more
Who will find me, take care and side with me
Guide me back safely to my home
Where I belong, once more