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Oft ist das Leben lauter Licht Und funkelt freudefarben Und lacht und fragt nach denen nicht, Die litten, die verdarben. Doch immer ist mein Herz bei denen, Die Leid verhehlen Und sich am Abend voller Sehnen Zu weinen in die Kammer stehlen. So viele Menschen weiß ich, Die irren leidbeklommen, All ihre Seelen heiß ich Mir Brüder und willkommen. Gebückt auf nasse Hände Weiß ich sie abends weinen, Sie sehen dunkle Wände Und keine Lichter scheinen. Doch tragen sie verborgen, Verirrt, und wissen's nicht, Durch Finsternis und Sorgen Der Liebe süßes Licht.
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 251-252.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Oft ist das Leben", written 1918 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Hermann Grabner (1886 - 1969), "Oft ist das Leben lauter Licht", 1950/1 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Hermann Hesse-Lieder, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hugo Rolle , "Oft ist das Leben lauter Licht", op. 11 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
Often life is pure light And sparkles full of colour And laughs and does not ask after Those who suffered, who were lost. But always my heart is with those Who conceal suffering And in the evening, full of yearning, Steal away to their chambers to weep. I know so many people Who stray about, oppressed by suffering; I call all of their souls My brethren and bid them welcome. Bowed over wet hands I know they weep every evening; They see dark walls And no lights shining. But secretly they carry, Having gone astray, and know it not, Through darkness and anxieties The sweet light of love.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Oft ist das Leben lauter Licht" = "Often life is pure light"
"Oft ist das Leben" = "Often life is "
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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 Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Oft ist das Leben", written 1918
This text was added to the website: 2019-05-01
Line count: 20
Word count: 108