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Er fiel den Tod für's Vaterland, Den süßen der Befreiungsschlacht; Wir graben ihm mit treuer Hand Tief tief den schwarzen Ruheschacht. Da schlaf' zerhauenes Gebein: Wo Schmerzen einst gewühlt und Lust, Schlug wild ein tödtend Blei hinein, Und brach den Trotz der Heldenbrust. Da schlaf' gestillt, zerrißnes Herz So wunschreich einst, auf Blumen ein, Die wir im veilchenvollen März Dir in die kühle Grube streu'n. Ein Hügel [hebt]1 sich über dir, Den drückt kein Maal von Marmelstein. Von Rosmarin nur pflanzen wir Ein Pflänzchen auf dem Hügel ein. Das sproßt und grünt so traurig schön, Von deinem treuen Blut gedüngt: Man sieht zum Grab ein Mädchen geh'n, Das [zarte]2 Minnelieder singt. - Die kennt das Grab nicht, weiß es nicht, Wie der sie still und fest geliebt, Der ihr zum Kranz, den sie sich flicht, Den Rosmarin zum Brautkranz gibt.
Confirmed with Huldigung den Frauen. Ein Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1828. Herausgegeben von J.F. Castelli. Sechster Jahrgang. Wien, bey Tendler und von Manstein, pages 43-44; and with Oberösterreichisches Jahrbuch für Literatur und Landeskunde. Erster Jahrgang. 1844. Herausgegeben von Karl Adam Kaltenbrunner. Linz, 1844. Verlag von Vincenz Fink, pages 192-193.
1 Kenner (Oberösterr. Jahrbuch): "wölbt"2 Kenner (Oberösterr. Jahrbuch), and Schubert: "leise"
Text Authorship:
- by Josef Kenner (1794 - 1868), "Grablied", written 1813 [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), "Grablied", D 218 (1815), published 1848 [ voice, piano ], A. Diabelli & Co., VN 8819, Wien (Nachlaß-Lieferung 42) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó d'enterrament", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Graflied", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Burial song", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chanson de la tombe", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 139
He fell and died for the fatherland, A sweet death in the battle for liberation, We bury him with a faithful hand, Deep, deep in the black peaceful shaft. Sleep there, broken bones! Where pain and pleasure once lodged A deadly shot of lead burst rudely in And broke the defiance of a heroic breast. Sleep there and be calm, torn heart, Once so rich in desires, on the flowers there Which we collected in violet rich March And have strewn in your cool trench. A mound is being raised over you. No marble monument will be imprinted there; We shall just plant some rosemary - A small plant on the mound. As it germinates and becomes green it will be sadly beautiful, Fertilized by your faithful blood. A girl can be seen going to the grave Gently singing songs of love. Anyone who does not know the grave, does not know How he loved her quietly and devotedly, He who allows her to make a wreath from The rosemary; he gives it to her and she turns it into a bridal garland.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Josef Kenner (1794 - 1868), "Grablied", written 1813
This text was added to the website: 2016-09-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 182