by Alfred Bunn (1796? - 1860)
Translation Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

The Light of Other Days
Language: English 
The light of other days is faded,
And all its glories past.
For grief with heavy wing had shaded
The hopes too bright to last;
The world with morning’s mantle clouded,
Shines forth with purer rays!
The heart ne’er feels, in sorrow shrouded,
The light of other days.

The leaf which Autumn tempests wither,
The birds which then take wing,
When Winter’s winds are past, come hither
To welcome back the Spring;
The very ivy on the ruin
In gloom-full life displays;
The heart alone sees no renewing,
The light of other days.

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):

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2025-09-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 93

Das Licht von früher'n Tagen
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English 
So bist du endlich mir entschwunden,
du schöner Hoffnungsstrahl;
zu glänzend leuchtetest du nieder
in dieses Leidental.
Aurora mit dem Purpurmantel
hervor aus Dunkel bricht,
doch nimmer leuchtet mir, dem Armen,
der früher'n Tage Licht.

Das Blatt, von Herbstes Sturm gebleichet,
die Schwalbe, die entflieht,
es kehret alles fröhlich wieder,
sobald der Frühling blüht.
Der Efeu selbst an dunkler Mauer
entbehrt des Lebens nicht,
nur ich beseufze und beweine
der früher'n Tage Licht.

Text Authorship:

Based on:

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


Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2025-09-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 73