Der Bergmann

Der Bergmann lebt beim Grubenlicht,
bedarf des Scheins der Sonne nicht.
Es wechseln nicht die Sterne, es wechselt kein Mond,
wo der alte Fürst der Erde thront.

Zeigt sich das Erz als schlecht Gestein,
schließt doch das Gold und Silber ein.
Auf kaltem, naßem Grund und auf trockenem Weg
findet er nur erst das blank Gepräg.

Das blanke Erz, es ist die Zier,
wonach man rennt mit wilder Gier.
Doch Weltlauf bringet Sorge und Schmerz und Gefahr,
drum sein Grubenlicht nehm' jeder wahr.

Es mögen Not und Sorge dräu'n,
der Bergmann find't das recht' Gestein,
und kehrt er dann zur Schicht in das Zechenhaus,
löscht er müde dann das Lämpchen aus.

Translation(s): ENG

List of language codes

Submitted by Emily Ezust [Administrator]

Authorship

• by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [ author's text not yet checked 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 Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Der Bergmann", <<1829. [
   text verified 1 time
  ]

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

• ENG English (John H. Campbell) , title 1: "The miner", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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The miner

The miner lives by the pit-light,
he doesn't need the sunlight.
The stars don't change, nor does the moon,
where the old prince of the earth sits in state.

He sees the ore as bad rock,
but holds dear the gold and silver.
On cold, wet ground and on dry paths
he seeks only that first bright strike.

The shining ore, it is the prize,
after which one runs with wild greed.
However worldly ways bring worry and pain and danger,
that is why the pit-light draws them.

Need and worry may threaten,
the miner finds the right rock,
wearily then he extinguishes his little lamp
and he is off to the public-house.

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Authorship

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
  
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• a text in German (Deutsch) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
• This text was set to music by the following composer(s): Johann Karl Gottfried Loewe. Go to the text.

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.