Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Es [ragt]1 ein altes Gemäuer Hervor aus Waldesnacht, Wohl standen Klöster und Burgen Einst dort in herrlicher Pracht. Es liegen im kühlen Grunde Behauene Steine gereiht; Dort schlummern die [Frommen]2, die Starken, Die Mächt'gen der alten Zeit. Was kommst du [bei]3 nächtlicher Weile Durchwühlen das alte Gestein? Und [förderst herauf]4 aus den Gräbern -- Nur Staub und Totengebein. Unmächtger Sohn der Stunde, Das ist der Zeiten Lauf, Laß ruhn, laß ruhn die Toten, Du weckst sie mit Klagen nicht auf.
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotes1 Strauss: "steht"
2 Strauss: "Frauen"
3 omitted by Strauss
4 Strauss: "fordest hervor"
Text Authorship:
- by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Laß ruhn die Toten", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte [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 Hans Jelmoli (1877 - 1936), "Lass ruh'n die Toten" [ alto and piano ], from Frisch gesungen, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Laß ruh'n die Toten", WoO. 35 (1877) [ voice, piano ], from Jugendlieder [sung text checked 2 times]
- by Gustav Thudichum (1866 - 1944), "Lass ruh'n die Toten", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für Bass-Stimme und Piano) no. 1, published 1900 [ bass and piano ], München, Schmid Nachf. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Adolf Wallnöfer (1854 - 1946), "Lass ruh'n die Todten", op. 20 (Sechs Gesänge für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 2, published 1880 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Deixeu reposar els morts", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Let the dead rest", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Laisse reposer les morts", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 84
Une vieille muraille émerge De la nuit de la forêt, Jadis cloîtres et châteaux Se dressaient là dans une magnifique splendeur. Il y a sur le sol froid Des pierres de taille alignées ; Là sommeillent les femmes, les forts, Les puissants des temps anciens. Pourquoi viens-tu à la nuit Fouiller dans les vieilles pierres ? Et n'extraire des tombes Que poussière et ossements. Impuissant fils du temps, C'est la course des jours, Laisse reposer, laisse reposer les morts, Tu ne les réveilleras pas avec tes plaintes.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2008 by Pierre Mathé, (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) by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Laß ruhn die Toten", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte
This text was added to the website: 2008-11-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 85