by Hanns Johst (1890 - 1978)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Gesang
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Groß trägt der Berg
Des Himmels stürmische Brandung,
Trägt mit dem Nacken
Aus Fels
Der Ewigkeit Fuß.
Größer der Winter!
Er überwindet die Berge
Und zwingt die trotzige Kraft
In des Eises
Silbernes Netz.
Und dennoch! Größer der Mensch!
Er wandelt Gebirge und Eis
Zum klingenden Raum
Seiner Freude.
Höher wie Berge und Schnee
Jauchzt der Ruf
Seiner Lust!

Confirmed with Hanns Johst, Lieder der Sehnsucht, München: Albert Langen, 1924, page 33.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2018-09-26
Line count: 17
Word count: 59

Song
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
With greatness the mountain bears
The stormy surging of the heavens;
With its neck of rock
It supports
The foot of eternity.
Greater is winter!
It conquers the mountains
And forces the defiant power
Into the silvery
Net of the ice.
And yet! Greater is man!
He transforms mountains and ice
Into the resounding expanse
Of his happiness.
Higher than mountains and snow
Sounds the exulting cry
Of his joy.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2018-09-26
Line count: 17
Word count: 70