Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh

Komm, süßer Tod, first edition 1736

"Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh" (Come, sweet death, come, blessed rest) is a song for solo voice and basso continuo from the 69 Sacred Songs and Arias that Johann Sebastian Bach contributed to Musicalisches Gesangbuch by Georg Christian Schemelli (BWV 478), edited by Schemelli in 1736.^[1] The text is by an anonymous author.^[2] Bach, by means of melody and harmony, expresses the desire for death and heaven. It is among his most popular works and has been adapted and transformed by several composers, such as Max Reger, Leopold Stokowski,^[3] Knut Nystedt, and for the Wanamaker Organ, by Virgil Fox.^[4]

Text

German original[2]	English translation
Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh! Komm führe mich in Friede, weil ich der Welt bin müde, ach komm! ich wart auf dich, komm bald und führe mich, drück mir die Augen zu. Komm, selge Ruh!	Come, sweet death, come, blessed rest! Come lead me to peace for I am weary of the world, O come! I wait for you, come soon and lead me, close my eyes. Come, blessed rest!
Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! Im Himmel ist es besser, da alle Lust viel größer, drum bin ich jederzeit schon zum Valet bereit, ich schließ die Augen zu. Komm, selge Ruh!	Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! It is better in heaven, for there is all pleasure greater, therefore I am at all times prepared to say "Farewell," I close my eyes. Come, blessed rest!
Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! O Welt, du Marterkammer, ach! bleib mit deinem Jammer auf dieser Trauerwelt, der Himmel mir gefällt, der Tod bringt mich darzu. Komm, selge Ruh!	Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! O world, you torture chamber, oh! stay with your lamentations in this world of sorrow, it is heaven that I desire, death shall bring me there. Come, blessed rest!
Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! O, dass ich doch schon wäre dort bei der Engel Heere, aus dieser schwarzen Welt ins blaue Sternenzelt, hin nach dem Himmel zu. O: selge Ruh!	Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! Oh, that I were but already there among the hosts of angels, out of this black world into the blue, starry firmament, up to heaven. O blessed rest!
Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! Ich will nun Jesum sehen und bei den Engeln stehen. Es ist nunmehr vollbracht, drum, Welt, zu guter Nacht, mein Augen sind schon zu. Komm, selge Ruh!	Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! I will now see Jesus and stand among the angels. It is henceforth completed, so, world, good night, my eyes are already closed. Come, blessed rest.

References

1. Albert Schweitzer (1911). J.S. Bach, Volume 2. Ernest Newman. Breitkopf & Härtel.
2. Komm süßer Tod / Text and Translation of Chorale bach-cantatas.com
3. "Bach Performance". Victoria Advocate. June 28, 1999. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
4. "Organist Virgil Fox Master of Instrument". Boca Raton News. January 26, 1972. Retrieved May 29, 2010.