O Tod, wie bitter bist du (Johannes Brahms)

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(Posted 2009-06-07) CPDL #19607: (Sibelius 4)

Editor: John K. Patterson (submitted 2009-06-07). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 40 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

In Spanish: Oh muerte que amarga eres tú

(Posted 2026-01-16) CPDL #88078:

Editor: Samuel Orlando Álvarez Marulanda (submitted 2026-01-16). Score information: A4, 9 pages, 229 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: SATB choir arrangement with Spanish translation

General Information

Title: O Tod, wie bitter bist du, Op. 121, No. 3
Composer: Johannes Brahms

Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Baritone solo
Genre: Sacred, Lied

Language: German
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1896
Description: #3 of Vier ernste Gesänge (Johannes Brahms)

External websites:

Original text and translations

German text

O Tod, wie bitter bist du,
wenn an dich gedenket ein Mensch der gute Tage und genug hat und ohne Sorge lebet,
und dem es wohl geht in allen Dingen und noch wohl essen mag!

O Tod, wie wohl tust du dem Dürftigen, der da swach und alt ist,
der in allen Sorge steckt, und nichts Bessers zu hoffen noch zu erwarten hat!

English translation

O death, how bitter is the remembrance of you to a person at peace with his possessions,
to a man undistracted and prospering in everything and still having strength to welcome a luxury.

O death, your judgement is good to a person who is needy and lacking strength, who is in extreme old age
and is anxious about everything and who is disobedient and has lost hope.

Spanish translation

¡Oh muerte, qué amarga eres tú cuando te recuerda el hombre que vive tranquilo sus días,
que no se preocupa de nada, que todo lo que hace le sale bien y disfruta del placer!

¡Oh muerte, qué dulce tú eres al que pobre es, que es débil y viejo,
que vive en ansiedad y no tiene (ni siquiera ya) un poco de esperanza!