by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
Totengräberlied Matches original text
Language: German (Deutsch)
Grabe, Spaden, grabe! Alles, was ich habe, Dank' ich, Spaden, dir! Reich' und arme Leute Werden meine Beute, Kommen einst zu mir! Weiland groß und edel, Nickte dieser Schädel Keinem Grusse Dank! Dieses Beingerippe Ohne Wang' und Lippe Hatte Gold und Rang. Jener Kopf mit Haaren War vor wenig Jahren Schön, wie Engel sind! Tausend junge Fentchen Leckten ihm das Händchen, Gafften sich halb blind! Grabe, Spaden, grabe! Alles, was ich habe, Dank' ich, Spaden, dir! Reich' und arme Leute Werden meine Beute, Kommen einst zu mir!
Note: Modern spelling would change "Spaden" to "Spaten" (line 1-1) and "Fentchen" to "Fäntchen" (line 3-4)
Composition:
- Set to music by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788), "Totengräberlied", Wq 200 no. 1 (1788-1789) [ voice and piano or harpsichord or organ ], from Neue Lieder-Melodien, no. 1
Text Authorship:
- by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Todtengräberlied", written 1775, first published 1777
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Doodgraverslied", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Grave-digger's song", copyright ©
- ENG English [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Dig! And, Spade, keep diggin'!", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (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: 24
Word count: 87