A friend is releasing a DVD of a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth. No room for my program notes (no big loss to humanity there), but they wanted a translation. The commonly used translation of Ode to Joy by William Wertz is a touch archaic. Of course, he was trying to make the translation “poetic”. Other excellent translations are copyrighted. I needed a direct un-flowery translation, so I sat down and came up with this.
For laughs, try Google translate on a language that you know for an uncanny valley version.
Here is my direct prose (almost literal) translation of Friedrich Schiller’s Ode to Joy as modified by Beethoven for the finale of his Symphony No. 9.
| O Freunde, nicht diese Töne! | Oh friends, not these tones! |
| Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen, | Instead, let’s sing more pleasant |
| und freudenvollere. | and joyful sounds |
| Freude! | Joy! |
| Freude! | Joy! |
| Freude, schöner Götterfunken | Joy, beautiful divine spark |
| Tochter aus Elysium, | Daughter of Elysium, |
| Wir betreten feuertrunken, | We enter drunk with fire, |
| Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! | Heavenly one, your holy sanctuary. |
| Deine Zauber binden wieder | Your magic reunites |
| Was die Mode streng geteilt | What the fashion severely divided |
| Alle Menschen werden Brüder, | All Men become brothers, |
| Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. | Where your gentle wing rests. |
| Wem der große Wurf gelungen, | Who has had the great fortune, |
| Eines Freundes Freund zu sein | to be a true friend |
| Wer ein holdes Weib errungen, | Whoever has won a lovely wife |
| Mische seinen Jubel ein! | Join in our jubilation! |
| Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele | Yes, if he has even one soul |
| Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund! | his own in all the world |
| Und wer’s nie gekonnt, der stehle | But whomever has failed in this |
| Weinend sich aus diesem Bund! | Must steal away from this gathering in tears! |
| Freude trinken alle Wesen | Joy all creatures drink |
| An den Brüsten der Natur | from nature’s breasts |
| Alle Guten, alle Bösen | Both all good and all evil |
| Folgen ihrer Rosenspur. | Follow her rosy path. |
| Küsse gab sie uns und Reben, | She gave us kisses and wine |
| Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod | a friend proven in death |
| Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben, | Pleasure was given to the lowly |
| Und der Cherub steht vor Gott. | and the heavenly standing before god |
| Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen | Joyously, as his suns fly |
| Durch des Himmels prächt’gen Plan, | Through Heaven’s magnificent plan, |
| Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn, | Run, Brothers on your way |
| Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen. | Joyful as a hero in victory. |
| Seid umschlungen, Millionen! | Be embraced, you Millions! |
| Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt! | This kiss for the entire world! |
| Brüder, über’m Sternenzelt | Brothers, beyond the stars |
| Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen. | Must a loving father live. |
| Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen? | Do you bow before him, Millions? |
| Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt? | Do you sense your creator, World? |
| Such’ ihn über’m Sternenzelt! | Seek him then beyond the stars! |
| Über Sternen muß er wohnen. | He must dwell beyond the stars. |
