"I will seize Fate by the throat. It will not wholly conquer me! Oh, how beautiful it is to live - and live a thousand times over!" -LvB
Following translation of the lyrics..........................
Oh friends, not these sounds! Let us instead strike up more pleasing and more joyful ones!
Joy!
Joy!
Joy, beautiful spark of divinity,
Daughter from Elysium,
We enter, burning with fervour,
heavenly being, your sanctuary!
Your magic brings together
what fashion has sternly divided.
All men shall become brothers,
wherever your gentle wings hover.
Whoever has been lucky enough
to become a friend to a friend,
Whoever has found a beloved wife,
let him join our songs of praise!
Yes, and anyone who can call one soul
his own on this earth!
Any who cannot, let them slink away
from this gathering in tears!
Every creature drinks in joy
at nature's breast;
Good and Bad alike
follow her trail of roses.
She gives us kisses and wine,
a true friend, even in death;
Even the worm was given desire,
and the cherub stands before God.
Gladly, just as His suns hurtle
through the glorious universe,
So you, brothers, should run your course,
joyfully, like a conquering hero.
Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss is for the whole world!
Brothers, above the canopy of stars
must dwell a loving father.
Do you bow down before Him, you millions?
Do you sense your Creator, o world?
Seek Him above the canopy of stars!
He must dwell beyond the stars.
Thanks Eyejay,
I saw this before but I've never seen the words translated to english.
Wendy
Yes, thank you. I never thought about what the words mean. And I, too, am a fan of the classics and of history.
Along these lines, some here may be interested in what Latin, a "dead" language, may have actually sounded like when it was alive (that is, used in real situations, not like it sounds being recited in a Latin class in a traditional Catholic Mass).
I ran across a historical video/film a while ago, not thinking about what language I was hearing, happily being content to read the subtitles. But then at a certain point I did wonder what I was hearing. Was it some Slavic language, no... Was it Spanish...definitely not. Probably Italian, similar... nope. Finally it dawned on me, having recognized some words and constructions from my high-school Latin class, that indeed it was Latin but in a resurrected conversational form.
So here's Mark Antony's address to the Sente right after Caesar's murder. It is NOT his famous speech to the people of Rome as written by Shakespeare. It's another dramatic piece; I wish I could find the title of the entire film. Enjoy, if this is your cup of tea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_IPqniaZR0
Anyhow, my sense of ancient Roman history was definitely enlivened by this. And I went on to discover other dramatic pieces, and 2 entire films, in Latin, as well.
That was cool, nothing like I was taught in UK school.........awesome thanks again :)