Ode to Joy – English prose translation

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.

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