Mue91's translation is very good. For my $.02 I use a bit different because it is more melodic and works more comforably for me in engilish (though I actually feel pretty comforable keeping most of the german syntaxt intact and letting it sound yodaish) while sill preserving the german meaning. I think the original German lyrics are more about conformity and what people give up to try to be part of a group, whether it is christian or the in crowd. The english lyrics are extremely different. It isn't even the same song.
A few notes. Angst means fear but also specifically is used in existentialism to mean fear of failing in one's duty to god. So it is notable that angst is attributed to angels and I doubt that was a coincidence.
Those who live well on earth
Will be angels after death
They live in heaven so you ask then
Why it is you can't see them
But when the clouds have gone to sleep
Angels can be in heaven seen
They are full of fear and so alone
God he knows I will no angel be
They live behind the sunshine
Separated from us by a gulf so wide
They must hand on to the stars so tight
Ore else they'll fall from heaven's height
But when the clouds have gone to sleep
Angels can be in heaven seen
They are full of fear and so alone
God he knows I will no angel be
Mue91's translation is very good. For my $.02 I use a bit different because it is more melodic and works more comforably for me in engilish (though I actually feel pretty comforable keeping most of the german syntaxt intact and letting it sound yodaish) while sill preserving the german meaning. I think the original German lyrics are more about conformity and what people give up to try to be part of a group, whether it is christian or the in crowd. The english lyrics are extremely different. It isn't even the same song.
A few notes. Angst means fear but also specifically is used in existentialism to mean fear of failing in one's duty to god. So it is notable that angst is attributed to angels and I doubt that was a coincidence.
Those who live well on earth Will be angels after death They live in heaven so you ask then Why it is you can't see them
But when the clouds have gone to sleep Angels can be in heaven seen They are full of fear and so alone God he knows I will no angel be
They live behind the sunshine Separated from us by a gulf so wide They must hand on to the stars so tight Ore else they'll fall from heaven's height
But when the clouds have gone to sleep Angels can be in heaven seen They are full of fear and so alone God he knows I will no angel be