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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Woher ich kam? Es ist noch eine Frage
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Woher ich kam? Es ist noch eine Frage;
Mein Weg hierher, der ist mir kaum bewußt,
Heut nun und hier am himmelfrohen Tage
Begegnen sich, wie Freunde, Schmerz und Lust.
O süßes Glück, wenn beide sich vereinen!
Einsam, wer möchte lachen, möchte weinen?

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Woher ich kam?", appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 4. Buch der Betrachtungen -- Tefkir Nameh, first published 1827 [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 Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Woher ich kam?", op. 73 (Sechs Gedichte aus der "westöstliche Divan") no. 4 (1951) [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Edward Staempfli (1908 - 2002), "Woher ich kam? -- Es ist noch eine Frage" [ SATB chorus and woodwind quintet ], from Fünf Chöre nach Gedichten von Goethe, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-12-23
Line count: 6
Word count: 43

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