by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Es ist das Glück ein flüchtig Ding
Language: German (Deutsch)
Es ist das Glück ein flüchtig Ding, Und war's zu allen Tagen; Und jagtest du um der Erde Ring, Du möchtest es nicht erjagen. Leg' dich lieber ins Gras voll Duft Und singe deine Lieder; Plötzlich vielleicht aus blauer Luft Fällt es auf dich hernieder. Aber dann pack' es und halt' es fest Und [plaudre]1 nicht viel dazwischen; Wenn du zu lang' es warten läßt, Möcht' es dir wieder entwischen.
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Randhartinger: "plauder'"
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 34 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Werner (Erich) Josten (1885 - 1963), "Das Glück", published 1926, from Fünf Lieder, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl, Graf Nostitz , "Das Glück", published 1886 [ voice and piano ], from Fünfzig Lieder, no. 3, Prag, Hoffmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878), "Es ist das Glück ein flüchtig Ding", op. 235, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], from Letzte Liederspende für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 5, Hamburg, Cranz [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Das Glück" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jakob Rosenhain (1813 - 1894), "Es ist das Glück ein flüchtig Ding", op. 71 (Sechs Lieder und Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "Luck"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-07-10
Line count: 12
Word count: 71
Luck
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Dame Fortune, she's a flighty thing, for moods, there's none to match her: that damsel's ever on ready wing, and vainly you'll try to catch her. Lay thee down 'neath the summer skies where lark's sweet song may greet thee; Some day, perchance to thy surprise, Fortune will come to meet thee. Then thou must seize her, and hold thy tongue, 'tis thus, if thou'rt wise, wilt show it; for if thou make her wait too long, she'll be off, before thou know it.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "Luck" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 34
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2007-08-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 84