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Wem lacht das Herz nicht, grünt das Land, Das Land, das ihn geboren, Dem bis zum Tod mit Herz und Hand Er Liebe zugeschworen! O jung wird auch der Ältste da, Wie strahlt's aus seinen Blicken! Er jauchzt und muß ein Gloria Frischauf gen Himmel schicken! Wem lacht das Herz nicht, sieht er stehn Den alten Freund zur Seite, Der, wie auch rasch die Jahre gehn, Nie fehlte beim Geleite! O jung wird auch der Ältste da, Denkt er der fernen Tage: Noch frischer glüht die Treue ja, Als wie die Ros' am Hage! Hei! die ihr steht in Jugendkraft, Und singt, wie wir gesungen! Wie auch die Zeit die Stunden rafft, Eins ist ihr nicht gelungen: Denn jung noch blieb der Ältste, ha! Und frisch an allen Trieben: O schreibt's in's Herz euch fern und nah: Bleibt jung, wie wir's geblieben!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 315.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Alten an die Jungen", appears in Liederbuch, in 5. Vermischte Lieder, no. 340 [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 Jakob Eduard Schmölzer (1812 - 1886), op. 357 (Vier Lieder für vier-stimmigen Männerchor) no. 3 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Robert Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The old to the young", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 143
Whose heart does not laugh when the land, The land that gave birth to him, burgeons in green, [The land] to which with heart and hand He has sworn his love! Oh, even the oldest grows young then, How a glow emanates from his gaze! He rejoices and must sent a Gloria Briskly up toward heaven! Whose heart does not laugh when he sees His old friend standing at his side, Who, no matter how quickly the years pass, Was never missing as companion! Oh, even the oldest grows young then, When he thinks of distant days: For faithfulness glows more freshly Than the rose by the grove! Ha! ye who stand in the strength of youth And sing as we sang! However much time rips away the hours, In one thing it had no success: For even the oldest one remains young, ha! And brisk in all his drive: Oh, all ye far and near, inscribe it on your heart: Remain young as we have!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Die Alten an die Jungen", appears in Liederbuch, in 5. Vermischte Lieder, no. 340
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 167