Nicht so düster und so bleich
Schläfer in der Truhe,
[Wohnest nun im stillen Reich
Gottgeweihter Ruhe!]1

Wird der Leib des Wurmes Raub
Und ein Spiel den Winden -
Muß das Herz selbst noch als Staub,
Leben und empfinden.

[Jetzt beginnet dein]2 Gericht:
Gleichend deinem Leben
Werden dunkel oder licht
Träume dich umschweben.

Jeder Laut, der dich verklagt
Als den Quell der Schmerzen,
Wird ein scharfer Dolch und nagt
Sich zu deinem Herzen.

Doch der Liebe Thränenthau,
Der dein Grab besprühet:
Färbt sich an des Himmels Blau,
Knospet auf und blühet.

Im Gesange lebt der Held,
Und zu seinem Ruhme
[Brennet]3 hoch im Sternenfeld
Eine Feuerblume.

Schlafe bis der Engel ruft
Bis Posaunen klingen,
Und die Leiber sich der Gruft
Jugendlich entschwingen!

About the headline (FAQ)

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Dichtungen vom Freyherrn Franz von Schlechta. Erster Band. Wien, 1824. Im v. Hirschfeld'schen Verlage, pages 14-15.

¹ Schubert (first edition): "Unter Schollen leicht und weich / Leg' ich dich zur Ruhe."
² Schubert (first edition): "Denn der Herr sitzt zu"
³ Schubert (first edition): "Schimmert"

Note: The textual changes inserted into Schubert's manuscript by a third party (possibly Schlechta himself) for the first edition (Diabelli 1832) have not been retained in Neue Schubert Gesamtausgabe.

Text Authorship:

• by Franz Xaver Freiherr von Schlechta (1796 - 1875), "Todtengräber-Weise" [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Totengräber-Weise", D 869 (1826), published 1832 [ voice, piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 4015 Wien (Nachlaß-Lieferung 15) [sung text checked 1 time]

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

• CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó de l'enterramorts", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Doodgraverslied", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant du fossoyeur", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 121

Not so gloomy and so pale,
Sleeper, in your chest,
You are now living in that quiet kingdom
Of divinely blessed rest!

Although the body is becoming prey for worms
And a plaything for the winds - 
The heart, even as dust, has to
Live and experience emotions.

Your judgement is now beginning - 
Similar to your life,
Whether they be dark or light,
Dreams are going to hover around you.

Every sound that accuses you
Of being a source of pain
Will become a sharp dagger and stab
You in the heart.

But love's teary dew
Which is being sprayed your grave
Will be coloured by the blue of the heavens,
It will sprout buds and blossom.

The hero lives in song
And to his glory,
Burning high in the field of stars,
Is a flower of fire.

Sleep until the angel calls,
Until trombones sound,
And the bodies in the grave
Rise up as they are made young again.