Submitted by Maiko Heller on So, 12/25/2011 - 23:30
44
Freut euch des Lebens
Enjoy life

Freut euch des Lebens,

weil noch das Lämpchen glüht,

pflücket die Rose,

eh’ sie verblüht!

Man schafft so gern sich Sorg’ und Müh’,

sucht Dornen auf und findet sie,

und lässt das Veilchen unbemerkt,

das uns am Wege blüht.

Freut euch des Lebens,

weil noch das Lämpchen glüht,

pflücket die Rose,

eh’ sie verblüht!

Enjoy life

'cause the little lamp is still burning,

pick the rose

before it fades!

One likes to create worries and troubles,

looks for thorns and finds them,

and leaves unnoticed the violet

that blossoms on the way.

Enjoy life

'cause the little lamp is still burning,

pick the rose

before it fades!

 

This song is one of the most popular German folk songs, however, it was created in Zürich. The lyrics are written by the Swiss Martin Usteri (1763-1815). The composition itself is oftentimes attributed to Hans Georg Nägeli (1773-1836), but in fact, he was only the publisher (the first music publisher in Switzerland). Probably, the melody was written by Isaac Hirzel (1756-1833), also from Zürich. However, he only added together two pieces of melody that already existed to fit the lyrics. (Both of the original melodies could not be identified doubtlessly.)