Chorus
Our days here are as one day;
for all our days are rounded in a sleep;
they die and ne'er come back again.
Baritone solo
Why then dissemble we with a tale of falsehoods?
We are e'en as a day, that's young at morning
and old at eventide, and departs
and never more returns.
Chorus
We are e'en as a day,
that's young at morning and old at eventide,
and comes again no more.
Baritone solo (and choral interjections)
At this regard the weaklings waxed sore afraid,
and drugged themselves with dreams and golden visions,
and built themselves a house of lies to live in.
Then rose a storm with mighty winds and laid it low.
And out of the storm the voice of truth resounded
in trumpet tones:
"Man, thou art mortal and needs must thou die."
Chorus
Our days here are as one day;
for all our days are rounded in a sleep;
they die and ne'er come back again.
Chorus
Hallelujah!
Allah, il Allah.
Baritone solo
And the highways of earth are full of cries;
The ways of the earth bring forth gods and idols.
Whoso a-while regards them turns from them,
and keeps apart from all men;
for fame and its glories seem but idle nothings.
(and Chorus)
For all who are living know that Death is coming,
but at the touch of Death lose knowledge of all things,
nor can they have any part in the ways and doings
of men on the earth where they were.
Baritone solo
Therefore eat thy bread in gladness
and lift up thy heart and rejoice in thy wine,
and take to thyself some woman whom thou lovest,
and enjoy life.
What task so e'er be thine, work with a will,
For thou shalt know none of these things,
when thou comest to thy journey's end.
Chorus
For all who are living know that Death is coming,
but at the touch of Death lose knowledge of all things.
Baritone solo
My beloved whom I cherished was like a flower
whose fair buds were folded lightly,
and she open'd her heart at the call of Love.
Among her fragrant blossoms Love had his dwelling
and to all who longed, her love she gave.
Chorus
Among her fragrant blossoms Love had his dwelling.
Baritone solo
I praise her above all other women
who are poor in possessing,
and so are poor in giving too.
Were not the world the abode of dissemblers,
and were not men's hearts so impure,
then all the world would join me
in praising my beloved.
She gave to many, and yet was chaste
and pure as a flower.
My beloved whom I cherished was like a flower.
Soprano solo
I honour the man who can love life,
yet without base fear can die.
He has attained the heights
and won the crown of life.
Chorus
The crown!
Soprano solo
I honour the man who dies alone
and makes no lamentation.
His soul has ascended to the mountain top,
that is like a throne which towers
above the great plains that roll
far away into the distance.
The sun goes down and the evening
spreads its hands in blessing
o'er the world, bestowing peace;
And so creeps on the night that whelms
and quenches all; the night that binds
our eyes with cloths of darkness;
binds them in long and dreamless sleep;
Dreamless sleep, thou art death's twin brother.
Chorus
Long, dreamless sleep.
Soprano solo
And the passing spirit sings - but this only:
"Farewell, I loved ye all!"
And the voices of nature answer him:
Chorus
"Thou art our brother!"
Soprano solo
And so the star of his life sinks down
in the darkness whence it had risen.
Baritone solo
The snow lingers yet on the mountains,
but yonder in the valley the buds
are breaking on the trees and hedges.
Soprano solo
Golden the willow branches
and red the almond blossoms.
The little full-throated birds
have already begun their singing.
But hearken, they cannot cease for very joy
from singing a song whose name is Spring-time.
Chorus
Spring-time! Spring-time!
Baritone solo
The woods and forests are full
of coolness and silence,
and silv'ry brooklets
prattle round their borders.
Chorus
The woods and forests are full of silence.
Baritone solo
The golden corn awaits the hand
of the reaper, for ripeness
bids death come.
Chorus
Ripeness bids death come.
Baritone and Soprano soli, Chorus
Eternal renewing; everything on earth
will return again.
Everything on earth will return again,
ever return again.
Springtime, Summer, Autumn and Winter:
And then comes Springtime -
and then new Springtime.