Interpreted by Mark Raphael
O wusst' ich doch den Wegzuriiek (Oh, knew I but the way to return)
Wie Melodien zieht es mir (Like melodies it draws me)
Vergebliches Standchen (The Vain Serenade)
Die Mainacht (The May Night).
Die Sonne scheint nicht mehr (The Sun no Longer Shines)

The last three Songs in Brahms's Opus 63 are settings of verses called Heimweh (Home-sickness) by the Poet Klaus Groth. In the second of these, O wusst' ich, the singer regrets that h< ever left, the land of his childhood in vain search of happiness which he has never found.
Wie Melodien sings of 'something' which comes like melodies and spring blossoms, but is elusive as grey mists and breaths of air. 'But yet,' says the song, 'in Rhymes there lies well hidden a fragrance which brings tears to the eyes.'

Vergebliches Standchen is a lively little ditty, the words of which are a folk-song from the Lower Rhine. The lover, outside the beloved's house, begs her to admit him. pleading that he is so cold in the icy wind. His heart will freeze. his love will be extinguished. Won't she please let him in?' 'No! Good night, my boy, please go home to bed!' is all he gets for his pains.

Die Mainacht is the sorrowing recollection of one who. under the May moon, wanders lonely through the woodland. The turtle-dove coos, reminding the lover of past joys. Where is to be found the image of the lost one? In the sadness of recollection the tears fall.

Die Sonne scheint nicht mehr, a German folk-song, is the age-old lover's complaint that he has lost his heart, and with it the light of day. With quickening pulse he proclaims that you can put out a tire, but you can never extinguish Love.