from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Es ist ein Schnitter, der heisst Tod
 (Sung text for setting by J. Gall)
 See base text
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE POR
Es ist ein Schnitter, der heißt Tod,
Hat Gewalt vom höchsten Gott,
Heut wetzt er das Messer,
Es schneid't schon viel besser,
Bald wird er drein schneiden,
Wir müssen nur leiden.
Hüte dich schöns Blümelein! 

 ... 

Viel hundert tausend ungezählt,
Das nur unter die Sichel fällt,
Ihr Rosen und Lilien,
Euch wird er austilgen,
Auch die Kaiser-Kronen,
Wird er nicht verschonen.
Hüte dich schöns Blümelein!

 ... 

Trotz! Tod, komm her, ich fürcht' dich nicht,
komm her mit eil'gem Schritt
und bin ich verletzet,
So werd ich versetzet
In den himmlischen Garten
den all' wir erwarten.
Freue dich, schön's Blümelein.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.

Notes
Stanza 1, line 1: in Brahms, but only in WoO 32 no. 21, "der heißt Tod" is changed to "heißt der Tod"
Stanza 6, line 3: in Brahms, but only in WoO 32 no. 21, "Werd ich nur" is changed to "Werd ich auch"

Composition:

    Set to music by Jan Karol Gall (1856 - 1912), "Es ist ein Schnitter, der heisst Tod", op. 26 no. 3, published 1893?, stanzas 1,3,6 [ voice and piano ], from Z jesieni = Im Herbste, no. 3, Lwów: K. S. Jakubowski ; Warszawa : Gebethner & Wolff ; Lipsk, Breitkopf & Härtel, also set in Polish (Polski)

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Death the Reaper", copyright © 2007
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Cantique catholique", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • POR Portuguese (Português) (Margarida Moreno) , "Morte ceifeira", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 42
Word count: 195

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
There is a reaper who is called Death,
who has power from the highest god;
today he whets his knife
so that it will cut much better.
Soon he will begin to cut
and we can only suffer.
Beware, fair little flower!

 ... 

Many hundreds of thousands uncounted
that only fall to the scythe,
you roses, you lilies -
you, too, he will obliterate.
The crown imperials as well
he will not spare.
Beware, fair little flower!

 ... 

And yet! Death, come here - I do not fear you,
for all that; hasten here in one step.
Were I only wounded,
I would still be transported
to the celestial Garden
that we all await.
So rejoice, fair little flower.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,6 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2007-05-12
Line count: 42
Word count: 199