by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
O sweet were the hours
Language: English
O sweet were the hours When in mirth's frolic throng I led up the revels With dance and with song; When brisk from the fountain And bright as the day, My spirits o'erflow'd And ran sparkling away! Wine! Wine! Wine! Come bring me wine to cheer me, Friend of my heart! Come pledge me high! Wine! Till the dreams of youth Again are near me, Why must they leave me, Tell me, why? Return, ye sweet hours! Once again let me see Your airly light forms Of enchantment and glee; Come, give an old friend, While he crowns his gay glass, A nod as you part And a smile as you pass I cannot forget you, I would not resign, There's health in my pulse, And a spell in my wine; And sunshine in Autumn, Tho' passing too soon, Is sweeter and dearer Than sunshine in June.
Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "O sweet were the hours" [author's text not yet checked 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 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "O sweet were the hours", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 3 (1815) [ voice, violin, violoncello, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Daphné van Raemdonck) , "Oh, douces furent les heures", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , "O köstliche Zeit"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Belli erano i momenti", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 147
O köstliche Zeit
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
O köstliche Zeit, wo im Jubelgedrang ich führte den Reihen zu Tanz und Gesang; wo frisch von der Quelle, wie Tageslicht hell, mein Innres floß über, so sprudelnd und schnell! Wein! Wein! Wein! Komm, bring mir Wein, zur Lust mir, Freund meiner Brust, tu mir Bescheid! Wein! Bis der Jugend Träum' umziehn die Brust mir! Warum, ach! flohen sie, ach! so weit? Zurück, süße Stunden! Noch einmal kommt so, ihr luftgen Gestalten, bezaubernd und froh! Schenkt eurem Freunde, beim Glas oft gesehn, ein Grüßchen im Kommen, ein Lächeln im Gehn. Könnt ich euch vergessen? Euch missen? Nein, nein! Gesund ist mein Puls und ein Zauber im Wein; und herbstliche Sonn, ob zu bald sie entflieht, ist mildere Sonn, als im Juni uns glüht.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "O köstliche Zeit" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "O sweet were the hours"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Caroline Diehl
This text was added to the website: 2004-08-03
Line count: 31
Word count: 123