Trinklied (Funkelnd im Becher), D 356

Drinking song

(Poet's title: Trinklied)

Set by Schubert:

  • D 356
    for tenor, chorus and piano

    [1816]

Trinklied

Funkelnd im Becher
So helle so hold,
Blinket hochschäumend,
Blinkt perlend das Gold
Der süßen, der köstlichen Reben.

Es glänzet auch uns wohl
So freundlich, so hold,
Hell wie der Reben
Erquickendes Gold
Das wogende herrliche Leben.

Drum, freudiger Zecher,
Erhebet die Becher,
Es funkelt der Wein
Wohl so freundlich, so hold,
Es funkelt das wogende
Leben wie Gold!
Trinket! Trinket!

Drinking song

Sparkling in the glass
So bright, so beauteous,
It gleams as the bubbles fly high,
The gold gleams as it fizzes,
The gold of the sweet, valuable grape.

It shines clearly on us too,
So friendly, so beauteous;
As bright as the grape,
The refreshing gold of the grape,
Is majestic, surging life.

Therefore, joyful boozers,
Raise your glasses,
The wine is sparkling
And equally friendly, just as beauteous,
Sparkles this surging
Life, like gold!
Drink! Drink!

Themes and images in this text:

Cups and gobletsDrinking songsGoldSweetnessWaves – WogeWine and vines



There is no drowning of sorrows here. This is all fizz, a celebratory drink in honour of the splendour that life sometimes offers us. There are times when life seems to surge forward and such times call for golden sparkling wine.

Note for sommeliers: the word ‘hochschäumend’ has been translated here as if it refers to bursting bubbles of champagne rising high above the surface of the liquid in the glass, but it could also mean ‘with lots of froth’ (it is literally, ‘bubbling high’ or ‘frothing high’), as if someone has not been careful to pour the drink into correctly angled glasses.

Original Spelling

Trinklied

Funkelnd im Becher
So helle so hold,
Blinket hochschäumend,
Blinkt perlend das Gold
Der süssen, der köstlichen Reben.

Es glänzet auch uns wohl
So freundlich, so hold,
Hell wie der Reben
Erquickendes Gold
Das wogende herrliche Leben.

Drum, freudiger Zecher,
Erhebet die Becher,
Es funkelt der Wein
Wohl so freundlich, so hold,
Es funkelt das wogende
Leben wie Gold!
Trinket! Trinket!