Songs

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern

by Robert Schumann From Frauenliebe und -leben (1840) Op. 42 11–12.vii.1840

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Text & Translation

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Helft mir, ihr Schwestern
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern,
Freundlich mich schmücken,
Dient der Glücklichen heute mir,
Windet geschäftig
Mir um die Stirne
Noch der blühenden Myrte Zier.

Als ich befriedigt,
Freudigen Herzens,
Sonst dem Geliebten im Arme lag,
Immer noch rief er,
Sehnsucht im Herzen,
Ungeduldig den heutigen Tag.

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern,
Helft mir verscheuchen
Eine törichte Bangigkeit,
Dass ich mit klarem
Aug ihn empfange,
Ihn, die Quelle der Freudigkeit.

Bist, mein Geliebter,
Du mir erschienen,
Giebst du mir, Sonne, deinen Schein?
Lass mich in Andacht,
Lass mich in Demut,
Lass mich verneigen dem Herren mein.

Streuet ihm, Schwestern,
Streuet ihm Blumen,
Bringet ihm knospende Rosen dar,
Aber euch, Schwestern,
Grüss ich mit Wehmut,
Freudig scheidend aus eurer Schar.

Help me, my sisters
English translation © Richard Stokes

Help me, my sisters,
With my bridal attire,
Serve me today in my joy,
Busily braid
About my brow
The wreath of blossoming myrtle.

When with contentment
And joy in my heart
I lay in my beloved’s arms,
He still called,
With longing heart,
Impatiently for this day.

Help me, my sisters,
Help me banish
A foolish fearfulness;
So that I with bright eyes
May receive him,
The source of all my joy.

Have you, my love,
Really entered my life,
Do you, O sun, give me your glow?
Let me in reverence,
Let me in humility
Bow before my lord.

Scatter flowers, O sisters,
Scatter flowers before him,
Bring him budding roses.
But you, sisters,
I greet with sadness,
As I joyfully take leave of you.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern
German source: Adelbert von Chamisso

Help me, my sisters
English source: Richard Stokes

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern,
Help me, my sisters,
Freundlich mich schmücken,
With my bridal attire,
Dient der Glücklichen heute mir,
Serve me today in my joy,
Windet geschäftig
Busily braid
Mir um die Stirne
About my brow
Noch der blühenden Myrte Zier.
The wreath of blossoming myrtle.

Als ich befriedigt,
When with contentment
Freudigen Herzens,
And joy in my heart
Sonst dem Geliebten im Arme lag,
I lay in my beloved’s arms,
Immer noch rief er,
He still called,
Sehnsucht im Herzen,
With longing heart,
Ungeduldig den heutigen Tag.
Impatiently for this day.

Helft mir, ihr Schwestern,
Help me, my sisters,
Helft mir verscheuchen
Help me banish
Eine törichte Bangigkeit,
A foolish fearfulness;
Dass ich mit klarem
So that I with bright eyes
Aug ihn empfange,
May receive him,
Ihn, die Quelle der Freudigkeit.
The source of all my joy.

Bist, mein Geliebter,
Have you, my love,
Du mir erschienen,
Really entered my life,
Giebst du mir, Sonne, deinen Schein?
Do you, O sun, give me your glow?
Lass mich in Andacht,
Let me in reverence,
Lass mich in Demut,
Let me in humility
Lass mich verneigen dem Herren mein.
Bow before my lord.

Streuet ihm, Schwestern,
Scatter flowers, O sisters,
Streuet ihm Blumen,
Scatter flowers before him,
Bringet ihm knospende Rosen dar,
Bring him budding roses.
Aber euch, Schwestern,
But you, sisters,
Grüss ich mit Wehmut,
I greet with sadness,
Freudig scheidend aus eurer Schar.
As I joyfully take leave of you.

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

Poet

Adelbert von Chamisso

Adelbert von Chamisso was a German poet and botanist, author of Peter Schlemihl, a famous story about a man who sold his shadow. He was commonly known in French as Adelbert de Chamisso(t) de Boncourt, a name referring to the family estate at…

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