Es steht mein Lied in Nacht und Frost

Es steht mein Lied in Nacht und Frost, 
Die alles Leben tödten, 
Und harrt vergebens, ob der Ost 
Nicht wieder mag erröthen. 

So steht es nun ein ganzes Jahr 
In dieser Nacht, der kalten, 
Und dennoch grünt's noch immerdar, 
Wer hat es wohl erhalten ? 

Du nicht, du nicht, von aller Welt 
Bewundert und beneidet. 
Der hat's getan, der auf dem Feld 
Die Lilien [bekleidet]1.

Translation(s): ENG FRE

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Authorship

• by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864), "Wer hat's gethan?" [ author's text checked 1 time]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

• by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Wer hat's getan?", WoO 84A (1885). [
   text verified 1 time
  ]

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

• ENG English (John H. Campbell) , title 1: "Who has done this", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , title 1: "Qui l'a fait?", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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

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Who has done this

My song speaks of night and frost,
that all life is dead,
and vainly awaits,
ere dawn may not blush again in the east.

So, it now tells of a whole year
in this night and cold,
and yet greenery still remains,
has it been forgotten?

You mustn't, you must not, by all the world
admired and envied.
What was done, on this field
now clothed in lilies.

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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 Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864), "Wer hat's gethan?" FRE
• This text was set to music by the following composer(s): Richard Georg Strauss. Go to the text.

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