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Ach Gott! wie braucht's so kurze Frist, Bis daß ein Mensch vergessen ist! Und hat er's noch so treu gemeint, Und ward er noch so heiß beweint. Kaum ist gebettet er zur Ruh, Ein Andrer kommt daher im Nu, Und lächelt so vergnüglich gar Vielleicht schon in der Trauerschaar. Und wenn ein Röslein bald auf's Grab Aus wildem Grün nur blickt herab, Umsonst wohl blüht's in schönster Zier, Kaum Einer fragt: Wer schläft allhier? So gieng's von je, so wird es gehn, Kaum Einem anders hier geschehn; Nur Gott liebt fort zu aller Zeit, Nur Gott liebt fort in Ewigkeit.
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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 306-307.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ach Gott! wie braucht's so kurze Frist!", appears in Liederbuch, in 5. Vermischte Lieder, no. 330 [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 jun. Bethge (1841 - 1880) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bernhard Bogler (1821 - 1902), "Ach Gott! was brauchts so kurze Frist", op. 69b, published 1877 [ mixed chorus ], from Zwei Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, no. 2, Zürich: P.J. Fries [sung text not yet checked]
- by Samuel Hoch (b. 1830) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Hohmann (b. 1835) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jakob Eduard Schmölzer (1812 - 1886) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Schneeberger (1843 - 1906), "Ach Gott! wie braucht's so kurze Frist", op. 32 (Drei Männerquartette) no. 3, published 1882 [ vocal quartet for male voices ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894), "Ach Gott, wie braucht's so kurze Frist", op. 126 (Zehn Lieder für Männerchor) no. 4, published 1880 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Pfeil [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Ah God! how it only takes such a short time!", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 100
Ah God! how it only takes such a short time Before a person is forgotten! Though he was ever so faithfully inclined, Though he was ever so fervently mourned. Barely has he been laid to rest, Someone else comes along in a trice And smiles so very pleasantly[,] Perhaps already in the crowd of mourners. And when upon the grave a little rose Gazes down from the wild greenery, It blooms in vain in its loveliest adornment, Hardly anyone asks: Who sleeps here? Thus it has ever gone, thus will it go [in future], Hardly anyone shall experience anything else; Only God loves on at all times, Only God loves on in all eternity.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ach Gott! wie braucht's so kurze Frist!", appears in Liederbuch, in 5. Vermischte Lieder, no. 330
This text was added to the website: 2026-01-12
Line count: 16
Word count: 114