German original

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern lasst uns angenehmere
anstimmen und freudenvollere.
Freude! Freude!

Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,
(Schillers Original:
Was der Mode Schwert geteilt;
Bettler werden Fürstenbrüder,)
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

Wem der große Wurf gelungen,
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
Wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
Mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!

Freude trinken alle Wesen
An den Brüsten der Natur;
Alle Guten, alle Bösen
Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
Und der Cherub steht vor Gott.

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen.

Finale repeats the words:
Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Seid umschlungen,
Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt!
Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Freude, schöner Götterfunken


English translation

Oh friends, not these tones!
Rather let us sing more
cheerful and more joyful ones.
Joy! Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We approach fire-drunk,
Heavenly One, your shrine.
Your magic reunites
What custom sternly divides;
All people become brothers
(Schiller's original:
What custom's sword separates;
Beggars become princes' brothers)
Where your gentle wing alights.

Whoever succeeds in the great attempt
To be a friend of a friend,
Whoever has won a lovely woman,
Let him add his jubilation!
Yes, whoever calls even one soul
His own on the earth's globe!
And who never has, let him steal,
Weeping, away from this group.

All creatures drink joy
At the breasts of nature;
All the good, all the evil
Follow her roses' trail.
Kisses gave she us, and wine,
A friend, proven unto death;
Pleasure was to the worm granted,
And the cherub stands before God.

Glad, as his suns fly
Through the Heavens' glorious plan,
Run, brothers, your race,
Joyful, as a hero to victory.

Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the star-canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.

Finale repeats the words:
Be embraced, ye millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, beyond the star-canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Be embraced,
This kiss for the whole world!
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods


Lyrics submitted by floating_eye

Symphony 9 (op. 125) song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Great to see Beethoven on this site (though the lyrics should be primarily credited to Schiller). It isn’t unreasonable to state that the Ninth is one of humankind’s greatest achievements.

    Yet... Isn’t this the guy who penned a suicide note, ripped it up and shook his fist at fate? Broke a half dozen keys every time he pounded on the (early forms of the) piano and brought drums into the orchestra?! And treated his room like Zeppelin on tour?!!

    The origins of metal (seriously) pass down through Wagner and reach back to Beethoven’s defiant, thundering, raging and racing music. The critical reviews of his contemporaries saw his music as loud noise -sound familiar? Not surprising that many bands -from Jethro Tull to Trans-Siberian Orchestra- have integrated his music into the hard rock/metal idiom.

    offhandon January 22, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Ludwig Von...the first MetalHead IMHO

    drpoundsignon April 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Metalhead? NO!

    This last symphony by Beethoven is pretty much an epic achievement by the maestro himself. Listening to this symphony makes you feel very happy and "joyful" in a way. An "Ode to Joy" indeed. Props to Beethoven for creating such an epic piece of music even after when he went deaf.

    Eatcarpeton May 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is an absolutely glorious movement, a fitting ending to one of the great classical symphonies.

    floating_eyeon October 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    unbelieveable symphony, and absolutely mind blowind movement.

    it's a great thing you uploaded the correct lyrics (Y)

    polyorchison May 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Haha, I'm pretty sure drpoundsign was referring to the epic quality of the lyrics that, when spoken aloud in English, have an over-the-top, heavy-metal feel to them.

    I agree on all fronts about the music, though!

    joplinpicassoon November 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Speaks

    beckdaveson January 10, 2016   Link

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