De Brevitate Vitae
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De Brevitate Vitae (on the Shortness of Life) is a song in Latin that is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries. In many modern Western nations it is sung as an anthem at University graduation ceremonies. The melody is inspired by a medieval hymn by Strada, bishop of Bologna in 1267. Although this sounds very dignified, the song has been adopted by students as a form of prank and the lyrics are not very dignified.
It has been known as a beer-drinking song in German, Dutch and Swiss (and also United Kingdom, Swedish and even Australian) universities by many generations of students. In Belgian universities, where drinking and singing is actually a common activity for students, it is one of the 'official' songs which are sung as the opening of these singing activities. The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the bacchanalian mayhem of life (especially life as found in fraternities and sororities) while simultaneously retaining the grim knowledge that one day we will all die.
The song contains humorous and ironic references to sex and death, and many versions have appeared following efforts to bowdlerise this song for performance in public ceremonies. In private, students will typically sing ribald words.
The song is sometimes known by its opening words "Gaudeamus igitur" or simply "Gaudeamus". The many centuries of use have given rise to numerous slightly different versions.
Johannes Brahms quoted the hymn in the final section of his Academic Festival Overture. Sigmund Romberg used it in the operetta "The Student Prince".
An excellent performance of the first, most characteristic strophe was recorded in mid-twentieth century by the American-Italian singer Mario Lanza, and is still available, under the title "Gaudeamus Igitur".
An excerpt of the song was also performed by cast members of the television series The West Wing during the episode entitled "Debate Camp".
A variation was the original opening music for the Says You program on the US broadcaster WGBH.
An excerpt is also performed as the musical theme of the classic 1951 Cary Grant/Jean Crain film People Will Talk, delightfully "conducted" by Grant.
[edit] Translation
An eighteenth century version (C. W. Kindleben 1781) is shown here with each verse translated into English. A later, even more bowdlerised, version follows below.
Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus.
Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus.
Post jucundam juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
Let us rejoice therefore
While we are young.
Let us rejoice therefore
While we are young.
After a pleasant youth
After the troubles of old age
The earth will have us.
Ubi sunt qui ante nos
In mundo fuere?
Ubi sunt qui ante nos
In mundo fuere?
Vadite ad superos
Transite in inferos
Hos si vis videre.
Where are they
Who were in the world before us?
Where are they
Who were in the world before us?
You may cross over to heaven
You may travel into hell
If you wish to see them.
Vita nostra brevis est
Brevi finietur.
Vita nostra brevis est
Brevi finietur.
Venit mors velociter
Rapit nos atrociter
Nemini parcetur.
Our life is brief
It will be finished all too soon.
Our life is brief
It will be finished all too soon.
Death comes quickly
We are cruelly snatched away.
No one is spared.
Vivat academia!
Vivant professores!
Vivat academia!
Vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet
Vivant membra quaelibet
Semper sint in flore.
Long live the academy!
Long live the teachers!
Long live the academy!
Long live the teachers!
Long live all the male students!
Long live all the female students!
May they always flourish!
Vivant omnes virgines
Faciles, formosae.
Vivant omnes virgines
Faciles, formosae.
Vivant et mulieres
Tenerae amabiles
Bonae laboriosae.
Long live the virgins
Easy and beautiful!
Long live the virgins
Easy and beautiful!
Long live mature women also,
Tender and loveable
And full of good labor.
Vivant et res publica
et qui illam regit.
Vivant et res publica
et qui illam regit.
Vivat nostra civitas,
Maecenatum caritas
Quae nos hic protegit.
Long live the state as well
And those who rule it!
Long live the state as well
And those who rule it!
Long live our city
And the charity of benefactors
Which protects us here!
Pereat tristitia,
Pereant osores.
Pereat tristitia,
Pereant osores.
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis antiburschius
Atque irrisores.
Let sadness perish!
Let haters perish!
Let sadness perish!
Let haters perish!
Let the devil perish!
Let whoever is against our school
Who laughs at it, perish!
The song is sometimes known by its opening words "Gaudeamus igitur" or simply "Gaudeamus". The many centuries of use have given rise to numerous slightly different versions. This is one of them:
DE BREVITATE VITAE
Gaudeamus igitur, iuvenes dum sumus!
Post iucundam iuventutem, post molestam senectutem
nos habebit humus.
Ubi sunt, qui ante nos in mundo fuere?
Scandite ad superos, vadite ad inferos,
ubi iam fuere!
Vita nostra brevis est, brevi finietur,
venit mors velociter, rapit nos atrociter,
nemini parcetur.
Vivat academia, vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet, vivant membra qualibet,
semper sint in flore!
Vivant omnes virgines, faciles, formosae!
Vivant et mulieres, tenerae, amabiles
bonae laboriosae!
Vivat et res publica et qui illam regit!
Vivat nostra civitas, Maecenatum caritas,
quae nos hic protegit!
Pereat tristitia, pereant osores!
Pereat diabolus, quivis antiburschius,
atque irrisores!
ROUGH TRANSLATION TO ENGLISH
Let us therefore rejoice while we are young;
After our pleasant youth, after troublesome old age
The ground will hold us.
Where are those who were in the world before us?
You may go up to the gods, you may cross into hell
If you wish to see them.
Our life is brief, it will shortly end;
Death comes quickly, cruelly snatches us;
No one is spared.
Long live the university, long live the teachers,
Long live each male student, long live each female student;
May they always flourish!
Long live all maidens, good-natured and beautiful!
Long live wives as well, tender, loveable,
Honest, hardworking.
Long live the state and those who rule it.
Long live our city, and the charity of benefactors
Which protects us here.
Let sadness perish, Let haters perish.
Let the devil perish, whoever is against the students,
And those who mock us!
