by Ludwig Rellstab (1799 - 1860)
Translation © by Malcolm Wren

Fröhlicher Lebensmuth
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG
Fröhlicher Lebensmuth
Braust in dem raschen Blut;
Sprudelnd und silberhell
Rauschet der Lebensquell.
Doch eh' die Stunde flieht,
Ehe der Geist verglüht,
Schöpft aus der klaren Fluth
Fröhlichen Lebensmuth!

Muthigen Sprung gewagt;
Nimmer gewinnt wer zagt;
Schnell ist das Wechselglück,
Dein ist der Augenblick.
Wer keinen Sprung versucht,
Bricht keine süße Frucht,
Auf! Wer das Glück erjagt,
Muthigen Sprung gewagt.

Muthig umarmt den Tod,
Trifft Euch sein Machtgebot.
Nehmt Euer volles Glas,
Stoßt an sein Stundenglas;
Des Todes Brüderschaft
Oeffnet des Lebens Haft.
Neu glänzt ein Morgenroth:
Muthig umarmt den Tod!

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludwig Rellstab. Erstes Bändchen. Berlin, bei Friedrich Laue. 1827, pages 16-17.


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):

  • by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Lebensmut", D 937 (1828), published 1872 [ voice, piano ], J. P. Gotthard, VN 325-361, Wien; note: fragment, breaks off after first stanza, completed as stanzaic song by Max Friedlaender [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El coratge de viure", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Levensmoed", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Michael Lee , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 91

Joyful courage for life
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Joyful courage for life
Is foaming in the rapid blood;
Fizzing and bright as silver, 
The spring of life is burbling.
But before the moment escapes,
Before the spirit dims,
Out of the clear flood create this
Joyful courage for life!

Dare to take the courageous leap;
Those who hesitate never win;
The change of fortune is rapid,
The moment is yours.
Those who do not attempt the leap
Collect no sweet fruit,
Up! Those who are chasing happiness,
Dare to take the courageous leap.

Embrace death courageously
When you encounter his powerful decree.
Take your full glass,
Clink it against his hour glass;
The brotherhood of death
Releases us from life's imprisonment.
A new dawn is glowing:
Embrace death courageously!

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Lebensmut" = "Courage for life"
"Lebensmuth" = "Courage for life"


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Malcolm Wren, (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:

 

This text was added to the website: 2020-06-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 121