Ode to Joy - Merrick Lowell, Ludwig van Beethoven

Oh friends, not these tones!

Let us raise our voices in more

Pleasing and more joyful sounds!

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods

Daughter of Elysium

We enter fire imbibed

Heavenly, thy sanctuary

Thy magic reunites those

Whom stern custom has parted;

All men will become brothers

Under thy gentle wing

May he who has had the fortune

To gain a true friend

And he who has won a noble wife

Join in our jubilation!

Yes, even if he calls but one soul

His own in all the world

But he who has failed in this

Must steal away alone and in tears

All the world’s creatures

Draw joy from nature’s breast;

Both the good and the evil

Follow her rose-strewn path

She gave us kisses and wine

And a friend loyal unto death;

She gave lust for life to the lowliest

And the Cherub stands before God

Joyously, as his suns speed

Through Heaven’s glorious order

Hasten, Brothers, on your way

Exulting as a knight in victory

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods

Daughter of Elysium

We enter fire imbibed

Heavenly, thy sanctuary

Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell

Can you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him above the starry canopy

Above the stars He must dwell

Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell

Can you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him above the starry canopy

Above the stars He must dwell

Joy, beautiful spark of the gods

Daughter of Elysium

We enter fire imbibed

Heavenly, thy sanctuary

Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell

Can you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him above the starry canopy

Above the stars He must dwell

Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell

Can you sense the Creator, world?

Seek him above the starry canopy

Above the stars He must dwell

Joy, daughter of Elysium

Thy magic reunites those

Whom stern custom has parted;

All men will become brothers

Under thy gentle wing

Be embraced, Millions!

This kiss for all the world!

Brothers!, above the starry canopy

A loving father must dwell

Joy, beautiful spark of Gods!

Daughter of Elysium