{"id":7712,"date":"2021-12-15T15:50:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T14:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=157382"},"modified":"2021-12-20T18:19:11","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T17:19:11","slug":"what-are-the-lyrics-to-ode-to-joy","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/what-are-the-lyrics-to-ode-to-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the lyrics to \u2018Ode to Joy\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By BBC Music Magazine\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 15 December 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Who wrote Ode to Joy?<\/h2>\n

The hauntingly beautiful poem \u2018Ode to Joy\u2019 was written by German poet Friedrich Schiller in 1785 to celebrate . He revised it in 1808 and Beethoven<\/a><\/strong> then used it in his final fourth movement of his Ninth Symphony<\/a><\/strong>. Beethoven also slightly adapted the words by adding this intro:<\/p>\n

Oh friends, not these sounds!<\/i>Let us instead strike up more pleasing<\/i>and more joyful ones!<\/i><\/p>\n

Freude!<\/i>Freude!<\/i><\/p>\n

\u2018Ode to Joy\u2019 has since become a protest song across the world. Perhaps one of its most famous performances was conducted by \u00a0Leonard Bernstein\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>on Christmas Day in 1989\u00a0 after the fall of the Berlin Wall , when appropriately the word \u2018Freude\u2019 (joy) was replaced with \u201cFreiheit\u201d (freedom).<\/p>\n

Is it true \u2018Ode to Joy\u2019 is Europe\u2019s official anthem?<\/h2>\n

Yes it is. Or rather Beethoven\u2019s music to Ode to Joy is the official Anthem of Europe and is played at official events. It was adapted in 1972 and is not designed to replace individual states national anthems but rather celebrate Europe\u2019s sense of brotherhood, like Schiller intended<\/p>\n

What are the original lyrics to Ode to Joy in English?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Joy, beautiful spark of Divinity [or: of gods],\nDaughter of\u00a0Elysium,\nWe enter, drunk with fire,\nHeavenly one, thy sanctuary!\nThy magic binds again\nWhat custom strictly divided;*\nAll people become brothers,*\nWhere thy gentle wing abides.<\/p>\n

Whoever has succeeded in the great attempt,\nTo be a friend\u2019s friend,\nWhoever has won a lovely woman,\nAdd his to the jubilation!\nYes, and also whoever has just one soul\nTo call his own in this world!\nAnd he who never managed it should slink\nWeeping from this union!<\/p>\n

All creatures drink of joy\nAt nature\u2019s breasts.\nAll the Just, all the Evil\nFollow her trail of roses.\nKisses she gave us and grapevines,\nA friend, proven in death.\nEcstasy was given to the worm\nAnd the cherub stands before God.<\/p>\n

Gladly, as His suns fly\nthrough the heavens\u2019 grand plan\nGo on, brothers, your way,\nJoyful, like a hero to victory.<\/p>\n

Be embraced, Millions!\nThis kiss to all the world!\nBrothers, above the starry canopy\nThere must dwell a loving Father.\nAre you collapsing, millions?\nDo you sense the creator, world?\nSeek him above the starry canopy!\nAbove stars must He dwell<\/p>\n

What are the German lyrics to \u2018Ode to Joy\u2019 (An die Freude)<\/b><\/h2>\n

Freude, sch\u00f6ner G\u00f6tterfunken,\nTochter aus Elysium,\nWir betreten feuertrunken,\nHimmlische, dein Heiligtum!\nDeine Zauber binden wieder\nWas die Mode streng geteilt*;\nAlle Menschen werden Br\u00fcder*\nWo dein sanfter Fl\u00fcgel weilt.<\/p>\n

Wem der gro\u00dfe Wurf gelungen\nEines Freundes Freund zu sein;\nWer ein holdes Weib errungen\nMische seinen Jubel ein!\nJa, wer auch nur eine Seele\nSein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!\nUnd wer\u2019s nie gekonnt, der stehle\nWeinend sich aus diesem Bund!<\/p>\n

Freude trinken alle Wesen\nAn den Br\u00fcsten der Natur;\nAlle Guten, alle B\u00f6sen\nFolgen ihrer Rosenspur.\nK\u00fcsse gab sie uns und Reben,\nEinen Freund, gepr\u00fcft im Tod;\nWollust ward dem Wurm gegeben\nund der Cherub steht vor Gott.<\/p>\n

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen\nDurch des Himmels pr\u00e4cht\u2019gen Plan\nLaufet, Br\u00fcder, eure Bahn,\nFreudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.<\/p>\n

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!\nDiesen Ku\u00df der ganzen Welt!\nBr\u00fcder, \u00fcber\u2019m Sternenzelt\nMu\u00df ein lieber Vater wohnen.\nIhr st\u00fcrzt nieder, Millionen?\nAhnest du den Sch\u00f6pfer, Welt?\nSuch\u2019 ihn \u00fcber\u2019m Sternenzelt!\n\u00dcber Sternen mu\u00df er wohnen.<\/p>\n