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Des weines geist begann im fass zu singen: Mensch - teurer ausgestossener - dir soll Durch meinen engen kerker durch erklingen Ein lied von licht und bruderliebe voll. Ich weiss: am sengendheissen bergeshange Bei schweiss und mühe nur gedeih ich recht Da meine seele ich nur so empfange Doch bin ich niemals undankbar und schlecht. Und dies bereitet mir die grösste labe Wenn eines arbeit-matten mund mich hält Sein heisser schlund wird mir zum kühlen grabe Das mehr als kalte keller mir gefällt. Hörst du den sonntagsang aus frohem schwarme? Nun kehrt die hoffnung prickelnd in mich ein: Du stülpst die ärmel - stützest beide arme Du wirst mich preisen und zufrieden sein. Ich mache deines weibes augen heiter Und deinem sohne leih ich frische kraft Ich bin für diesen zarten lebensstreiter Das öl das fechtern die gewandheit schafft. Und du erhältst von diesem pflanzenseime Den Gott - der ewige sämann - niedergiesst Damit in deiner brust die dichtkunst keime Die wie ein seltner baum zum himmel spriesst.
Text Authorship:
- by Stefan George (1868 - 1933) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles Baudelaire (1821 - 1867), "L'âme du vin", appears in Les Fleurs du mal, in 3. Le vin, no. 104
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Alban Maria Johannes Berg (1885 - 1935), "Die Seele des Weines", 1929, from Der Wein, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Manuel Capdevila i Font) , "L'ànima del vi", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Garrett Medlock) , "The wine's soul", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Lo spirito del vino", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
This text was added to the website: 2004-01-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 163
The wine’s spirit began in the barrel to sing: Humankind - dear outcast - you should Through my tight prison sound A song full of light and brotherly love! I know: on scorching hot mountainsides With sweat and effort only I thrive There alone my soul I receive Thus I am never ungrateful and mean. And this prepares me for the greatest refreshment, When a work-spent mouth holds me, Its hot throat becomes for me a cool grave, This more than the cold cellar I enjoy. Do you hear Sunday’s song from the happy swarms? Now returns hope tickling within me: You turn up your sleeves, you rest both arms, You will praise me and be satisfied. I make your wife’s eyes bright And to your son I lend fresh spirit; I am for these gentle life-champions The oil which in the fencer creates agility. And you obtain from this bushel God, the eternal sower pours down, Thereby in your breast poetry’s seed Like a rare tree toward heaven sprouts.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 by Garrett Medlock, (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 Stefan George (1868 - 1933)
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Charles Baudelaire (1821 - 1867), "L'âme du vin", appears in Les Fleurs du mal, in 3. Le vin, no. 104
This text was added to the website: 2019-01-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 168