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O sweet were the hours When in mirth's frolic throng I led up the revels With dance and with song; When brisk from the fountain And bright as the day, My spirits o'erflow'd And ran sparkling away! Wine! Wine! Wine! Come bring me wine to cheer me, Friend of my heart! Come pledge me high! Wine! Till the dreams of youth Again are near me, Why must they leave me, Tell me, why? Return, ye sweet hours! Once again let me see Your airly light forms Of enchantment and glee; Come, give an old friend, While he crowns his gay glass, A nod as you part And a smile as you pass I cannot forget you, I would not resign, There's health in my pulse, And a spell in my wine; And sunshine in Autumn, Tho' passing too soon, Is sweeter and dearer Than sunshine in June.
Text Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "O sweet were the hours" [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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "O sweet were the hours", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 3 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Daphné van Raemdonck) , "Oh, douces furent les heures", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "O köstliche Zeit"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Belli erano i momenti", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 147
Belli erano i momenti Quando in dolce compagnia Con danze e con canti Festeggiavo in allegria; Quando vivo come una fontana E luminoso come il giorno Il mio spirito traboccava Diffondendosi intorno! Vino! Vino! Vino! Portami vino per rendermi lieto, Amico del mio cuore! Brinda alla mia salute! Vino! Fino a che i sogni di giovinezza Ancora mi stanno vicini, Perché dovrebbero lasciarmi, Dimmi, perché? Ritornate dolcissime ore! Regalate ancora al mio sguardo Le vostre luminose figure Piene di gioia e di incanto; Venite, con un vecchio amico, Che leva il bicchiere al viso, E, se tu parti, un saluto E, se tu passi, un sorriso. Dimenticarti non posso, E rassegnarmi nemmeno, C'è energia nel mio sangue, E una magia nel mio vino; Ed il sole d'autunno, Pur se presto svanisce Più del sole di giugno Accarezza e addolcisce.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2004 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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 English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "O sweet were the hours"
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-11
Line count: 32
Word count: 140