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Wer unter eines Mädchens Hand Sich als ein Sclave schmiegt, Und von der Liebe festgebannt, In schnöden Fesseln liegt, Weh' dem! der ist ein armer Wicht, Er kennt die gold'ne Freiheit nicht. Wer sich um Fürstengunst und Rang Mit saurem Schweiss bemüht, Und eingespannt sein Lebenlang, Am Pflug des Staates zieht, Weh' dem! der ist ein armer Wicht, Er kennt die gold'ne Freiheit nicht. Wer um ein schimmerndes Metall Dem bösen Mammon dient, Und seiner vollen Säcke Zahl Nur zu vermehren sinnt: Weh' dem! der ist ein armer Wicht, Er kennt die gold'ne Freiheit nicht. Doch wer dies Alles leicht entbehrt, [Wornach]1 der Thor nur strebt, Und froh bei seinem eignen Herd Nur sich, [nie]2 Andern, lebt, Der ist's allein, der sagen kann: Wohl mir, ich bin ein freier Mann!
1 Mozart: "Wonach"
2 Mozart: "nicht"
Text Authorship:
- by Johannes Alois Blumauer (1755 - 1798), "Lied der Freiheit", appears in Lyrische 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 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791), "Lied der Freiheit", K. 506 (1785) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Friedrich Johann Albrecht Muck (1763 - 1839), "Lied der Freiheit", published [1793], Leipzig: Gedruckt in der Breitkopfischen notendruckerey [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Lied van de vrijheid", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de la liberté", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canto di libertà", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Margo Briessinck , Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 132
Chi sotto la mano di una bella fanciulla come uno schiavo umile si inchina, e, catturato da sentimenti d'amore, giace avvinto da un' infame catena: Guai a lui! Un pover'uomo sarà, che non conosce l'aurea Libertà! Chi per il favore dei potenti ed il rango si affanna sempre aspramente sudando, E, sotto il giogo per l'intera sua vita, l'aratro dello Stato in avanti trascina: Guai a lui! Un pover'uomo sarà, che non conosce l'aurea Libertà! Chi per il possesso di un metallo scintillante accetta di farsi schiavo del perfido Mammone, e il numero dei suoi sacchi gonfi e ricolmi sempre di più accrescere egli vuole: Guai a lui! Un pover'uomo sarà, che non conosce l'aurea Libertà! Ma chi di tutto quello facilmente si priva, cui solo un folle nella sua vita aspira, e del proprio focolare contento e sazio vive per sé e non all'altrui servizio, soltanto lui può dire in verità, io sono un uomo libero e vivo in libertà!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2010 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johannes Alois Blumauer (1755 - 1798), "Lied der Freiheit", appears in Lyrische Gedichte
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-13
Line count: 24
Word count: 161