by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
Translation Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870)
Save me from the grave and wise
Language: English
Save me from the grave and wise, For vainly would I tax my spirit, Be the thing that I despise, And rival all their stupid merit. On! My careless laughing heart, O dearest Fancy let my find thee, Let me but from sorrow part, And leave this moping world behind me. Refrain Speak ye wiser than the wise, Breathe aloud your welcome measure, Youthful Fancy well can prize The words that counsel love and pleasure. Is it merry look, or speech, Or bounding step that thus displeases? Go and graver movements teach To yon light goss'mer on the breezes: Go where breathes the opening spring, And chide the flowers for gaily blowing, Tell the linnet not to sing In jocund May, when noon is glowing. (Refrain) Hence with wisdom, dull and drear, And welcome folly at a venture: Cease my song, a sound I hear, The planxty comes, the dancers enter. In yon throng, if I should see Some gallant, giddy, gay adviser, Who trough life might counsel me, He indeed might make me wiser. (Refrain)
Authorship:
- by William Smyth (1765 - 1849) [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), "Save me from the grave and wise", WoO. 154 (12 Irische Lieder) no. 8, G. 225 no. 8, published 1812/3 [ voice, piano, violin, violoncello ] [sung text checked 2 times]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Georg Pertz) , "Ernst und Weisheit sei verscheucht"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 31
Word count: 176
Ernst und Weisheit sei verscheucht
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the English
Ernst und Weisheit sei verscheucht! Denn wenig mag es mir behagen, Das zu sein, was Tand mich deucht Und eitlen Lorbeern nachzujagen! Auf! Mein arglos lächelnd Herz, Der Phantasie Gefild durchmessen! Laß mich scheiden nur vom Schmerz Und dieser faden Welt vergessen! Refrain: Du, der mehr als Wesie weißt, Sing dein Lied aus voller Brust; Dankbar lauscht der Jugend Geist Dem Wort, das Liebe rät und Lust. Kränkt mein froher Blick euch? Fliehen Wort und Schritt mir zu geschwinde? Geht und lehrt bedächt'ger ziehn Die Sommerfäden dort im Winde. Geht zum jungen Frühlingshang Und schmält der Blumen lustig Blühen, Schweigen laßt des Hänflings Sang Im lust'gen Mai, beim Mittagsglühen. (Refrain) Fort mit Weisheit, trüb und alt, Ha! Narretei nur mag uns frommen; Still mein Lied, ein Laut erschallt, Der Reigen naht, die Tänzer kommen. Wird dort einer, der mich sieht, Mir Lust und Narrheit taumelnd preisen, Er nur, der mich so beriet, Beim Himmel! Machte mich zum Weisen. (Refrain)
From a Beethoven score.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Georg Pertz (1830 - 1870), "Ernst und Weisheit sei verscheucht"
Based on:
- a text in English by William Smyth (1765 - 1849)
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 ]
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Hubert Arnold
This text was added to the website: 2005-09-18
Line count: 31
Word count: 159