Singing translations for some of Brahms’ folk song settings

 The  ABRSM’s new Singing Syllabus includes several of these charming songs.  I publish these singing translations as an addition to those already available.  Copyright remains mine, but they are free to download and perform.

Mein Mädel hat einen Rosenmund

To kiss my love is purest bliss,

I need no other joy but this,

Oh you! Oh you! Oh you!

My lovely dark-eyed maid so sweet,

You la la la la la

You la la la la la

I suffer till we meet.

Your love is like the heav’n so blue,

Protecting me wheree’er I go,

Oh you! Oh you! Oh you!

My lovely dark-eyed maid so sweet,

You la la la la la

You la la la la la

I suffer till we meet.

Da unten im Tale

Oh down in the valley

The water runs drear,

And I’ve no words to tell you,

I hold you so dear.

For the good times I thank you,

When we were in love,

And I hope, in the future,

Good fortune you’ll have

Die Sonne scheint nicht mehr

The sun has lost its light,

It shines no longer bright,

The day has lost its glory,

‘Tis darkened in my sight.

For you can quench a fire,

But not love’s desire.

The fire may leave a smart,

But love consumes the heart.

My heart’s no more with me,

‘Tis gone to be with thee.

To be with you would heal me

Of my sad malady.

For you can quench a fire,

But not love’s desire.

The fire may leave a smart,

But love consumes the heart.

Erlaube mir, feins Mädchen

Allow me, lovely maiden

In your garden to go,

That I may admire them,

The roses that grow.

Allow me then to pluck one,

You know it is the hour.

For your youth and your beauty

Have drawn me by their power.

Oh maiden, lovely maiden,

So sweet and innocent.

Whatever led you to believe

That it was truly meant

That I should never enter,

Or see the blushing rose?

Nor hold my dearest darling,

The sweetest one that grows.

Es steht ein Lind

Down in the vale a lime tree grows,

Oh say, why is it there?

It wants to aid my sighing,

Sighing,

Because my love is lost to me,

Because my love is lost to me.

A small bird sings upon the twig,

Oh say, why is it there?

It wants to aid my mourning,

Mourning,

Because my love is lost to me,

Because my love is lost to me.

A brook runs through the dewy vale,

Oh say, why is it there?

It wants to aid my weeping,

Weeping,

Because my love is lost to me,

Because my love is lost to me.

Feinsliebchen

“My darling, don’t go barefoot in the street,

You will cut and bruise your pretty feet.

La la la la, la la la la,

You will cut and bruise your pretty feet.”

“Why should I not always go barefoot there?

I am poor, and have no shoes to wear.

La la la la, la la la la,

I am poor, and have no shoes to wear.”

“Though you may be poor, you are brave and true;

If you’ll take this ring, I will marry you.

La la la la, la la la la,

If you’ll take this ring, I will marry you.”

Wach auf mein Herzensschöne

Awake, my love, ‘tis morning,

Awake, my love so fair;

The chorus of the dawning

Resounds throughout the air.

The joyous melody we hear

Would call the light to banish night,

So sweet it rings and clear.

I am the happy captive

Of your embracing smile,

And glory in the rapture;

Your beauty does beguile.

No bitterness, no sighing

Can be, when I my darling see;

The truth there’s no denying.

Schwesterlein

 “Sister dear, sister dear, when are we going home?”

“Not till the cock does crow; then will we homeward go

Brother dear, brother dear, then we’ll go home”.

“Sister dear, sister dear, when are we going home?”

“Not till the break of day, then will the guests away

Brother dear, brother dear, then we’ll go home”.

“Sister dear, sister dear, why so pale and white?”

“The rays of dawning day on my bedewed cheeks play

Brother dear, brother dear, with heav’nly light”

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