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Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir,
Seht, wie die Becher schäumen!
Bey vollen Gläsern wollen wir
Ein Stündchen schön verträumen.
Das Auge flammt, die Wange glüht,
In kühnen Tönen rauscht das Lied,
Schon wirkt der Götterwein!--
Schenkt ein!
Doch was auch tief im Herzen wacht,
Das will ich jetzt begrüßen.
Dem Liebchen sey dies Glas gebracht,
Der Einzigen, der Süßen!
Das höchste Glück für Menschenbrust,
Das ist der Liebe Götterlust;
Sie trägt euch himmelan!
Stoßst an!
Ein Herz, im Kampf und Streit bewährt,
Bei strengem Schicksals-Walten,
Ein freyes Herz ist Goldes werth,
Das müßt ihr fest erhalten.
Vergänglich ist des Lebens Glück
Drum pflückt in jedem Augenblick
Euch einen frischen Straus [sic]!
Trinkt aus!
Jetzt sind die Gläser alle leer,
Füllt sie noch einmal wieder.
Es wogt im Herzen hoch und hehr,
Ja, wir sind alle Brüder,
Von einer Flamme angefacht --
Dem deutschen Volke sey's gebracht,
Auf daß es glücklich sey,
Und frey.
J. Lang sets lines 1-4
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Cabinets-Bibliothek der deutschen Classiker. Körner’s Gedichte , Gotha & Neu-York: Verlag des Bibliographischen Instituts, 1827, pages 53-54.
Text Authorship:
- by (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir", written 1810 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Eduard Köllner (1839 - 1891), "Trinklied", op. 39 (Vier Gesänge für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 4, published 1876 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Delitzsch, Pabst [sung text not yet checked]
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Trinklied", lines 1-4 [ voice and piano ], unpublished song fragment (only the voice line, but staves for piano part are present) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Joseph) Joachim Raff (1822 - 1882), "Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir", op. 195 (Zehn Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 4 (1860-70), published 1876 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Reichardt (1797 - 1884), "Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir!", op. 14 (6 Lieder für Männerstimmen) no. 5, published <<1859 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Hofmeister; in Tafelgesänge für Männerstimmen für die Liedertafel in Berlin [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-18
Line count: 32
Word count: 154
Come brethren, drink happily with me,
See how the beakers are foaming!
With full glasses let us pleasantly
Dream away a little hour.
The eyes flame, the cheeks glow,
The song pours out in bold tones,
The wine of the gods is already doing its work! --
Pour it out!
But that which also keeps watch deep in our hearts,
I wish to greet it now.
To the beloved may this glass be dedicated,
The only one, the sweet one!
The greatest happiness for the bosom of mankind
Is the divine joy of love;
It carries you heavenward!
Clink your glasses!
A heart, proven in battle and strife
By the stern machinations of fate,
A free heart is worth gold,
That you must firmly maintain.
Life's happiness is fleeting,
At every moment, therefore, pluck
Yourself a fresh bouquet!
Drink up!
Now the glasses are all empty,
Refill them one more time.
Our hearts are surging highly and loftily,
Yes, we are all brethren,
Ignited by a single flame --
May the drink be dedicated to the German people
That they may be happy,
And free.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir" = "Come brethren, drink happily with me"
"Trinklied" = "Drinking song"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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) by (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Kommt, Brüder, trinket froh mit mir", written 1810
This text was added to the website: 2023-01-10
Line count: 32
Word count: 184