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Tage fliehen, Jahre rollen Schnell zur Ewigkeit hinab! Eh' wir wissen, was wir wollen, Öffnet sich für uns das Grab! Wünsche wechseln stets mit Sorgen Ungestüm in unsrer Brust; Oft beseufzen wir am Morgen Den Genuß ersehnter Lust. Chor. Tage fliehen, Jahre rollen Schnell zur Ewigkeit hinab. Süße Plane für das Leben Täuschen unsre Phantasie; Was wir wünschen, ach! das geben Selbst erfüllte Wünsche nie! [Jung]1 erträumen wir uns Freuden Einer fernen Wonnezeit; Sie erscheint, ihr folgt das Leiden Der verlornen [Heiterkeit]2. (Chor.) Ja, von unsern schönsten Tagen, Ernten wir oft [bittre]3 Pein! Froh genossen, leicht getragen Will das kurze Leben seyn. Ach! es läßt die leere Stunde, Der verlorne Augenblick, Immer eine Lebenswunde, Einen leeren Raum zurück. (Chor.) Wenn sich deine Tage schwärzen, O, das fechte dich nicht an! Baue nur im eignen Herzen Reine, stille Freuden an! Rein erhalte dein Gewissen Und die ganze Seele rein! Leicht wird dann dein Sterbekissen, Wie das Blatt der Rose, seyn. (Chor.)
J. Knecht sets stanzas 1 (lines 1-4), 2 (lines 5-8), 3 (lines 1-4)
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed wtih Gedichte der Frau Elisa von der Recke, gebornen Reichsgräfin von Medem, herausgegeben von C.A. Tiedge, Halle: in der Rengerschen Buchhandlung, 1806, pages 138-140.
Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "öffnet" becomes "Oeffnet", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography; so since the lower-case version is not "oeffnet", we use "Öffnet".
1 Knecht: "Oft"2 Knecht: "Seligkeit"
3 Knecht: "herbe"
Text Authorship:
- by Elisa (Elisabeth) Charlotte Konstantia von der Recke (1756 - 1833), "Zum Jahresschluß" [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 Friedrich Heinrich Himmel (1765 - 1814), "Zum Jahresschluss", published 1807/8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Justin Heinrich Knecht (1752 - 1817), "Lebens-Philosophie", stanzas 1 (lines 1-4), 2 (lines 5-8), 3 (lines 1-4) [ voice and piano or guitar ], from Drei Lieder mit Begleitung des Pianoforte oder der Guitarre, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 38
Word count: 159
The days fly by, the years roll Quickly down into eternity! Before we know what we want, The grave opens for us! Within our breast, tumultuously, Wishes ever alternate with anxieties. Often in the morning we sigh over The enjoyment of longed-for pleasure. Chorus. The days fly by, the years roll Quickly down into eternity. Sweet plans for life Deceive our imagination; What we desire, ah! that is never granted -- Not even by wishes that are fulfilled! In youth we dream up joys Of a distant time of bliss; [The time] appears, it is followed by the suffering Of lost merriment. (Chorus) Yes, from our most beautiful days We often harvest bitter pain! Happily enjoyed, lightly borne That is how our short life wishes to be. Ah! the empty hour, The lost moment, Always leave a life-wound, An empty space behind. (Chorus) When your days darken, Oh, let that not distress you! Only plant within your own heart Pure, silent joys! Keep your conscience unsullied And your whole soul pure! Then your deathbed Will be as soft as a roseleaf. (Chorus)
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles
"Zum Jahresschluss" = "At the close of the year"
"Lebens-Philosophie" = "Philosophy of Life"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (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 Elisa (Elisabeth) Charlotte Konstantia von der Recke (1756 - 1833), "Zum Jahresschluß"
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 38
Word count: 180