Da muß der Sang gelingen,
Wenn singen Jung und Alt;
Ei ja! da muß es klingen
Frisch wie im grünen Wald!
Willkomm, willkomm, ihr Lieder,
Mit eurem trauten Ton,
Fürwahr, euch lernet wieder
Der Vater von dem Sohn!
Frau Musika, die Süße,
Stimmt selber an den Chor;
Ach, wie die alten Grüße
Bezaubern Herz und Ohr!
Da muß der Sang gelingen[,]
Wenn singen Jung und Alt:
Laßt frisch und froh es klingen,
Frisch wie im grünen Wald!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 310.
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):
Set in a modified version by Carl Attenhofer, Benedikt Randhartinger, Hans Michael Schletterer.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor]This text was added to the website: 2026-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 77
The song must indeed succeed
When both old and young sing;
Oh yes! then it must resound
As freshly as in the green woods!
Welcome, welcome, ye songs,
With your familiar sound,
Truly, the father once again
Learns you from the son!
Mistress Music, the sweet one,
Herself strikes up the chorus;
Ah, how the old greetings
Enchant our hearts and ears!
The song must indeed succeed
When both old and young sing:
Let it resound freshly and happily,
As freshly as in the green woods!
