by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE
Warum doch erschallen
himmelwärts die Lieder?
Zögen gerne nieder
Sterne, die droben
Blinken und wallen,
Zögen sich Lunas
Lieblich Umarmen,
Zögen die warmen,
Wonnigen Tage
Seliger Götter
Gern uns herab!

Composition:

    Set to music by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Warum?", op. 92 (Vier Quartette) no. 4 (<<1884), published 1884 [ satb chorus and piano ], Berlin, Simrock

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (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) , "Why then do songs resound heavenwards?", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Pourquoi", 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: 11
Word count: 30