Song of the tunnels | Down into the depths and do not hesitate long

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by Johann Nepomuk Vogl (1802 - 1866)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Stollenlied

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Hinab in die Teufe und zögert nicht viel,
Durchwandert die Läufe mit Hammer und Stiel,
Es winkt euch im Herzen der Erde das Ziel,
Dort suchet nach Erzen mit Hammer und Stiel.
 
Schon treiben die Künste ihr schauriges Spiel,
Nicht scheuet die Dünste mit Hammer und Stiel,
Und wenn auch den Gnomen der Spaß nicht gefiel,
Wer wäre beklommen mit Hammer und Stiel.
 
Es flüchten die Feigen in's finst're Asyl,
Sobald wir uns zeigen mit Hammer und Stiel.
Was könnte auch schaden, wenn Gott es nicht will?
Glück auf, Kameraden, mit Hammer und Stiel!¹

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Aus der Teufe. Bergmännische Dichtungen von Dr. Johann Nep. Vogl, zweite vermehrte Auflage, Wien: Verlag von Carl Gerold's Sohn, 1856, pages 47-50

¹ Footnote in score: "Glück auf, mit Hammer und Stiel," ist ein Bergmannsspruch der in mehreren ungarischen Gewerken gebräuchlich.

Text Authorship:

by Johann Nepomuk Vogl (1802 - 1866), "Stollenlied" [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 Wilhelm Speyer (1790 - 1878), "Stollenlied" [male voice and piano] [
text verified 1 time
]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "Song of the tunnels", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2016-06-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 95

Song of the tunnels

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Down into the depths and do not hesitate long,
Wander through the tunnels with hammer and chisel,
The goal beckons to you in the heart of the earth,
With hammer and chisel seek there for the ore.
 
Already the tricksters are playing their ghoulish games,
Do not evade the mists with hammer and chisel,
And even if the gnomes are displeased by the jest,
Who would be uneasy with hammer and chisel[?]
 
The cowards take flight to the darksome refuge,
As soon as we show ourselves with hammer and chisel.
What could harm us, if God does not permit it?
Good luck, comrades, with hammer and chisel! ¹

View original text (without footnotes)
¹ Footnote in score: "Good luck, with hammer and chisel," is a translation of a miners' saying that is traditionally used in several Hungarian mines.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Johann Nepomuk Vogl (1802 - 1866), "Stollenlied"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2016-06-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 108