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Was ist das nützlichste Metall, Das herrlichste allüberall? Das Eisen. Kein zweites in der Erde Reich Kommt je an Werth und Nutzen gleich Dem Eisen. Es reißt als Pflug die Erde auf, Als Anker hemmt des Schiffers Lauf Das Eisen, Und wird in eines Mannes Faust Ein Wetterstrahl, der tödtend saust, Das Eisen. Es schirmt das Haus, es kocht das Mahl, Es nützt und schützt nach Zweck und Wahl, Das Eisen, Wohl lernt entbehren sich geschwind, Doch nicht des Berges stärkstes Kind Das Eisen. D'rum mehr als Silber und als Gold Bin ich fürwahr vor Allem hold Dem Eisen, Das singe ich nicht bloß zum Scherz, Nur bleib' nicht meiner Liebsten Herz Von Eisen.
Confirmed with Aus der Teufe. Bergmännische Dichtungen von Dr. Johann Nep. Vogl, zweite vermehrte Auflage, Wien: Verlag von Carl Gerold's Sohn, 1856, pages 71-72
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Nepomuk Vogl (1802 - 1866), "Das Lied vom Eisen", appears in Aus der Teufe. Bergmännische Dichtungen [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 Anton Emil Titl (1809 - 1882), "Das Lied vom Eisen" [TTBB chorus a cappella] [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "The song about iron", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 114
What is the most useful of metals, The most glorious anywhere? Iron. No other in the earthly realm In worth and usefulness can equal Iron. As a plow it tears open the earth, As an anchor it halts the movement of a ship, Iron, And in the hand of a man it becomes A thunderbolt that hurtles murderously, Iron. It protects the house, it cooks the meals, It is of use and protects according to need and choice, Iron, One can quickly become accustomed to doing without, But not to doing without the mountain’s strongest offspring, Iron. Thus more than to silver and to gold I am, before all else, truly devoted To iron. I sing that not only in jest; May only my beloved’s heart not remain Of iron!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Nepomuk Vogl (1802 - 1866), "Das Lied vom Eisen", appears in Aus der Teufe. Bergmännische Dichtungen
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 130