Without twilight the day went to rest

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by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ohne Dämmrung gieng der Tag zur Rast

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ohne Dämmrung gieng der Tag zur Rast, 
Trüb und traurig, mitternächtig fast, 
Wie er kam. -- Und doch verzage nicht: 
  Auch das tiefste Dunkel birgt ein Licht.

Trüb und traurig gieng die Nacht vorbei, 
Schwarz und dunkel, bis zum Hahnenschrei: 
Sieh! da wagt's ein Stern, ihm banget nicht, 
  Zeigt am Himmel sich im Dämmerlicht.

Und die Sonne flammt ob der Frühlingspracht, 
Und die Aue blizt, und die Blume lacht: 
O verzage nicht, o verzage nicht! 
  Aus dem Dunkel bricht das schönste Licht!

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 43.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ohne Dämmrung gieng der Tag zur Rast", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 46 [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 (Carl or Caspar) Joseph Brambach (1833 - 1902), "Ohne Dämm'rung ging der Tag", op. 33 (Drei Gesänge für Alt (oder Bass) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1876 [ alto or bass and piano ], Mainz, Schott [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-04-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Without twilight the day went to rest

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Without twilight the day went to rest,
Dreary and sad, almost midnight-like,
As it came. -- And yet do not despair:
  Even the deepest darkness harbours a light.

Drearily and sadly the night passed,
Black and dark, until cock-crow:
Lo! then a star dares it, it has no fear,
  It shows itself upon the heavens in the twilight.

And the sun flames forth over the springtime splendour,
And the meadow sparkles and the flower smiles:
Oh, do not despair, oh, do not despair!
  From out of the darkness the most beautiful light breaks forth!

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"Ohne Dämmrung gieng der Tag zur Rast" = "Without twilight the day went to rest"
"Ohne Dämm'rung ging der Tag" = "Without twilight the day went"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Ohne Dämmrung gieng der Tag zur Rast", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 46
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2025-04-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 93