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Mit unserm Arm ist nichts gethan; Steht uns der Mächtige nicht bey, Der Alles ausführt! Umsonst entflammt uns kühner Muth; Wenn uns der Sieg von dem nicht wird, Der Alles ausführt! Vergebens fliesset unser Blut Fürs Vaterland; wenn der nicht hilft, Der Alles ausführt! ... Auf! in den Flammentod hinein! Wir lächelten dem Tode zu, Und lächeln, Feind', euch zu! Der Tanz, den unsre Trommel schlägt, Der laute schöne Kriegestanz, Er tanzet hin nach euch! Die dort trompeten, hauet ein, Wo unser rother Stahl das Thor Euch weit hat aufgethan! ... Seht ihr den hohen weissen Hut? Seht ihr das aufgehobne Schwerdt? Des Feldherrn Hut und Schwerdt? Fern' ordnet er die kühne Schlacht, Und jezo da's Entscheidung gilt, Thut ers dem Tode nah. Durch ihn, und uns ist nichts gethan; Steht uns der Mächtige nicht bey, Der Alles ausführt! Wir lächelten dem Tode zu Wir lächelten dem Tode zu! Und lächeln, Feind', euch zu!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6-8,11-14 of the original text.
Note: The title is Schlachtgesang in Klopstock's 1784 edition, and Schlachtlied in the 1798 and subsequent editions.
Composition:
- Set to music by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Schlachtgesang", op. 62 no. 3 (1847), published 1848, stanzas 1-3,6-8,11-14, Leipzig, Whistling
Score: IMSLP [external link]
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724 - 1803), "Schlachtlied", written 1767
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Gezang op het slagveld", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 42
Word count: 227
Nothing can be done by our arm Unless the mighty one stands by us, He who carries everything out. There is no point us being inflamed with keen courage Unless we rely on victory from him, He who carries everything out. In vain does our blood flow For the fatherland, if he does not help us, He who carries everything out. ... Up! Into the flaming smoke! We have laughed at death And, enemy, we laugh at you too! The dance that our drum is beating out, The beautiful loud war dance, It is being danced in your direction! Strike at those who are blowing trumpets Where our red steel attacked the gate And made it open wide! ... Can you see the white hat up high? Can you see the sword held up? The Field Marshal's hat and sword? In the distance he is ordering us into enthusiastic battle, And now the order has come into effect, Bringing death closer. Through him and us nothing gets done Unless the mighty one stands by us, He who carries everything out. The smoke is rising over there now! Into battle! Into battle! We have laughed at death And, enemy, we laugh at you too!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6-8,11-14 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Malcolm Wren, (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 Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724 - 1803), "Schlachtlied", written 1767
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This text was added to the website: 2017-08-17
Line count: 42
Word count: 283