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O Röschen rot, Der Mensch liegt in größter Not, Der Mensch liegt in größter Pein, Je lieber möcht' ich im Himmel sein. Da kam ich auf einen breiten Weg, Da kam ein Engelein und wollt' mich abweisen. Ach nein, ich ließ mich nicht abweisen! Ich bin von Gott und will wieder zu Gott, Der liebe Gott wird mir ein Lichtchen geben, Wird leuchten mir bis [in]1 das ewig selig' Leben!
Confirmed with L. Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano, Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Alte deutsche Lieder, Heidelberg: beÿ Mohr u. Zimmer; Frankfurt: beÿ J.C.B.Mohr, 1806, page 334.
1 in some versions: "an"Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Urlicht", subtitle: "Mündlich", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn [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 Wilhelm Kienzl (1857 - 1941), "Urlicht", op. 96 no. 13 (1919) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Urlicht", 1888-94, first performed 1895, from Symphony no. 2, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Urlicht", 1893, published 1899 [ voice and orchestra or piano ], from Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (formerly "Humoresken"), no. 14 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Joseph Suder (1892 - 1980), "Urlicht", 1941 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Llum primigènia", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Ahmed E. Ismail) , "Primal light", copyright © 2004 by Ahmed E. Ismail, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (David Seay) , "Premortal Light", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Primordial Light", subtitle: "Orally transmitted", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Lumière primaire", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- IRI Irish (Gaelic) [singable] (Gabriel Rosenstock) , "Úrléas", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Luce originaria", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Arnaldo Rossi) , "Luz primigenia (de El cuerno maravilloso del joven)"
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "Luz primigenia", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: John Versmoren , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 72
Oh, little red rose, Mankind is in the greatest distress, Mankind lies in the greatest suffering, All the more would I dearly love to be in Heaven. Then I came onto a broad pathway, There came a little angel and wanted to turn me away. Ah no, I did not let myself be turned away! I came from God and wish to return to God, The dear God shall give me a little light, Shall light my way to eternal, blessed life!
Subtitle: "Orally transmitted"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Urlicht", subtitle: "Mündlich", appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn
This text was added to the website: 2025-06-27
Line count: 10
Word count: 83