Versiunea Originală
Lyrics in English for "Ode to Joy"
("Ode An Die Freude")
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee (or You), God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to (or Hail Thee as) the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing [sometimes "Chanting"] bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy (or mighty) chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us [or Love divine is reigning o'er us], brother love binds man to man. (leading us with mercy's hand or binding all within its span)
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.
Povestea din Spate
"Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" este un poem scris de Henry van Dyke în 1907, cu intenția de a fi pus pe faimoasa melodie "Ode to Joy" din partea finală a ultimei simfonii a lui Ludwig van Beethoven, Simfonia a 9-a.
Van Dyke a scris poemul în 1907, pe când era găzduit de Harry Augustus Garfield, președintele Williams College, unde slujea ca predicator invitat. I-a mărturisit gazdei sale că inspirația i-au fost munții Berkshire din apropiere. Versurile au fost publicate pentru prima dată în 1911, în Van Dyke's Book of Poems, ediția a treia.
Despre acest imn, Van Dyke a scris:
"Aceste versuri sunt expresii simple ale simțămintelor și dorințelor creștine comune din vremea noastră: imnuri de azi, care pot fi cântate împreună de oameni care cunosc gândirea epocii și nu se tem că vreun adevăr al științei va distruge credința sau că vreo revoluție de pe pământ va răsturna împărăția cerurilor. De aceea, acesta este un imn al încrederii, al bucuriei și al nădejdii."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyful,_Joyful,_We_Adore_Thee
Povestea din Spate (EN)
"Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" is a poem written by Henry van Dyke in 1907 with the intention of musically setting it to the famous "Ode to Joy" melody of the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's final symphony, Symphony No. 9.
Van Dyke wrote this poem in 1907 while staying at the home of Williams College president Harry Augustus Garfield. He was serving as a guest preacher at Williams at the time. He told his host that the local Berkshire Mountains had been his inspiration. The lyrics were first published in 1911 in Van Dyke's Book of Poems, Third Edition.
Van Dyke wrote of this hymn:
"These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyful,_Joyful,_We_Adore_Thee