Gaudeamus igitur

"De Brevitate Vitae" and "Gaudeamus" redirect here. For the work by Seneca the Younger, see De Brevitate Vitae (Seneca). For the Gaudeamus Foundation and Prizes, see Gaudeamus Foundation. For the rodent genus, see Gaudeamus (rodent).

Postal card with symbols of traditional German student life of 1898

"De Brevitate Vitae" ("On the Shortness of Life"), more commonly known as "Gaudeamus Igitur" ("So Let Us Rejoice") or just "Gaudeamus", is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries, mainly sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies. Despite its use as a formal graduation hymn, it is a jocular, light-hearted composition that pokes fun at university life. The song dates to the early 18th century, based on a Latin manuscript from 1287. It is in the tradition of carpe diem ("seize the day") with its exhortations to enjoy life.

It was known as a beer-drinking song in many ancient universities and is the official song of many schools, colleges, universities, institutions, and student societies.

Content

The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the bacchanalian mayhem of student life 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". In the UK, it is sometimes affectionately known as "The Gaudie". The 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, which is set at the University of Heidelberg. The hymn is also quoted, along with other student songs, in the overture of Franz von Suppé's 1863 operetta Flotte Burschen (the action being once again set at the University of Heidelberg).

Lyrics

Below is an 18th-century version of the song (C. W. Kindleben, 1781), with two translations to English (one anonymous and literal, and another by J. Mark Sugars, 1997) as well as two to German (one by J. W. Lentner, 1850, and one by Johann Christian Günther, 1717). The Latin version uses the convention that consonantal 'i' and 'u' are written as 'j' and 'v' respectively. The word antiburschius is not Classical Latin, but came to refer to opponents of the 19th century politically active German student fraternities.

When sung, the first two lines and the last line of each stanza are repeated; for instance:

Gaudeamus igitur.

Iuvenes dum sumus.

Gaudeamus igitur.

Iuvenes dum sumus.

Post iucundam iuventutem.

Post molestam senectutem.

Nos habebit humus —

Nos habebit humus.

Latin	English	English (Mark Sugars, 1997)	German (J. F. Lentner, 1850)	German (J. C. Günther, 1747)
Gaudeamus igitur Iuvenes dum sumus. Post iucundam iuventutem Post molestam senectutem Nos habebit humus.	Let us rejoice, therefore, While we are young. After a pleasant youth After a troubling old age The earth will have us.	While we're young, let us rejoice, Singing out in gleeful tones; After youth's delightful frolic, And old age (so melancholic!), Earth will cover our bones.	Lebt, so lang die Jugend schäumt, Freudigen Gefühlen! Nach der Jugend froher Hast, Nach des Alters trüber Last, Ruhen wir im Kühlen.	Brüder laßt uns lustig sein, Weil der Frühling währet Und der Jugend Sonnenschein Unser Laub verkläret; Grab und Bahre warten nicht, Wer die Rosen jetzo bricht, Dem ist der Kranz bescheret.
Ubi sunt qui ante nos In mundo fuere? Vadite ad superos Transite in inferos Hos si vis videre.	Where are they who, before us, Were in the world? Go to the heavens Cross over into hell If you wish to see them.	Where are those who trod this globe In the years before us? They in hellish fires below, Or in Heaven's kindly glow, Swell th' eternal chorus.	Wo sind jene, die vor uns Diese Welt bebauet? Schwinget Euch zum Götterzelt, Steiget in die Unterwelt, Wo ihr längst sie schauet!	Wo sind diese, sagt es mir, Die vor wenig Jahren Eben also, gleich wie wir, Jung und fröhlich waren? Ihre Leiber deckt der Sand, Sie sind in ein ander Land Aus dieser Welt gefahren.
Vita nostra brevis est Brevi finietur. Venit mors velociter Rapit nos atrociter Nemini parcetur.	Our life is brief Soon it will end. Death comes quickly Snatches us cruelly To nobody shall it be spared.	Life is short and all too soon We emit our final gasp; Death ere long is on our back; Terrible is his attack; None escapes his dread grasp.	Kurz ist unser Lebenslauf, Bündig ist's vorüber; Kommt der Tod mit raschem Schritt, Nimmt uns jähen Griffes mit, Keinen schont sein Hieber!	Unsres Lebens schnelle Flucht Leidet keinen Zügel, Und des Schicksals Eifersucht Macht ihr stetig Flügel; Zeit und Jahre fliehn davon, Und vielleicht schnitzt man schon An unsres Grabes Riegel.
Vivat academia! Vivant professores! Vivat membrum quodlibet; Vivant membra quaelibet; Semper sint in flore.	Long live the academy! Long live the professors! Long live each student; Long live the whole fraternity; For ever may they flourish!	Long live our academy, Teachers whom we cherish; Long live all the graduates, And the undergraduates; Ever may they flourish.	Wo sind jene, die vor uns Diese Welt bebauet? Schwinget Euch zum Götterzelt, Steiget in die Unterwelt, Wo ihr längst sie schauet!	Wo sind diese, sagt es mir, Die vor wenig Jahren Eben also, gleich wie wir, Jung und fröhlich waren? Ihre Leiber deckt der Sand, Sie sind in ein ander Land Aus dieser Welt gefahren.
Vivant omnes virgines Faciles, formosae. Vivant et mulieres Tenerae, amabiles, Bonae, laboriosae.	Long live all girls, Easy [and] beautiful! Long live [mature] women too, Tender, lovable, Good, [and] hard-working.	Long live all the maidens fair, Easy-going, pretty; Long live all good ladies who Are tender and so friendly to Students in this city.	Alle Mädchen leben hoch, Wohlgestalt und schmiegsam! Auch den Frauen bringen's wir, Freundlich und von holder Zier, Häuslich, fromm und fügsam.	Unterdessen seid vergnügt, Laßt den Himmel walten, Trinkt, bis euch das Bier besiegt, Nach Manier der Alten! Fort, mir wässert schon das Maul, Und, ihr andern, seid nicht faul, Die Mode zu erhalten!
Vivat et res publica et qui illam regit. Vivat nostra civitas, Maecenatum caritas Quae nos hic protegit.	Long live the state as well And he who rules it! Long live our city [And] the charity of benefactors Which protects us here!	Long live our Republic and The gentlefolk who lead us; May the ones who hold the purse Be always ready to disburse Funds required to feed us.	Hoch auch das gemeine Wohl, Jener die es leitet! Trinkt auf unsre gute Stadt, Auf der Gönner Freundestat, Die uns Schutz bereitet!
Pereat tristitia, Pereant osores. Pereat diabolus, Quivis antiburschius Atque irrisores.	Let sadness perish! Let haters perish! Let the devil perish! And also the opponents of the fraternities And their mockers, too!	Down with sadness, down with gloom, Down with all who hate us; Down with those who criticize, Look with envy in their eyes, Scoff, mock and berate us.	Nieder mit der Traurigkeit, Mit den alten Drachen! Nieder mit dem Teufel auch, Nieder, die den Burschenbrauch Schmähen und verlachen!
Quis confluxus hodie Academicorum? E longinquo convenerunt, Protinusque successerunt In commune forum.		Why has such a multitude Come here during winter break? Despite distance, despite weather, They have gathered here together For Philology's sake!
Vivat nostra societas, Vivant studiosi; Crescat una veritas Floreat fraternitas Patriae prosperitas.		Long live our society, Scholars wise and learned; May truth and sincerity Nourish our fraternity And our land's prosperity.
Alma Mater floreat, Quae nos educavit; Caros et commilitones, Dissitas in regiones Sparsos, congregavit		May our Alma Mater thrive, A font of education; Friends and colleagues, where'er they are, Whether near or from afar, Heed her invitation.

Popular Culture

TV and Film

An excerpt of the song was performed by cast members of the television series The West Wing during the episode entitled "Debate Camp".

The song is sung in Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire by a number of academics at a party where they are celebrating the upcoming nuptials of a professor played by Gary Cooper.

It is also sung in the remake of the film, A Song Is Born, released in 1948, starring Danny Kaye.

In Yasujirō Ozu’s 1952 film Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice (Ochazuke no Aji) the first verse is sung in a Tokyo bar by a young man who has just graduated and is about to embark on his working life.

It was also performed as the musical theme of the classic 1951 Joseph L. Mankiewicz's film People Will Talk, delightfully "conducted" by Cary Grant . This movie is a remake of the German Frauenarzt Dr. Praetorius, in which actor/director Curt Goetz performs that scene with the same music in the movie based on his own play and screenplay.

In the movie Lord Love a Duck a fairly modern vocal version is sung during graduation ceremonies.

The first few bars of the tune is used in the movie People Will Talk.

Peter Alexander sang this song in a medley in the 1963 film Der Musterknabe.

The melody is woven through the soundtrack of Harold Lloyd's silent film "The Freshman" (1925). The melody also served as the music of the fictional school, Greenleaf High anthem, 'Hail To Thee O Greenleaf High' in the 1997 film In and Out.

Recordings

This song was referenced in satirist Tom Lehrer's song "Bright College Days" in 1959 in his self-published album More of Tom Lehrer (the successor to Songs by Tom Lehrer)--as well as in the more-recent release, An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer—in the line "Turn on the spigot, pour the beer and swig it, and gaudeamus igit-ur."

In the middle section of the Alan Sherman song "Dropouts March", An Alma Mater Chorus sings the following humorous line set to that melodic piece: "Ignoramus There you are/ Sitting in your hopped-up car/ And your brains ain't up to par/ And your ears stick out too far". (Source: "Dropouts March" from the Alan Sherman album "Allan in Wonderland" from 1964.)

A fortissimo rendition of the song performed by a full symphony orchestra appears in the closing pages of Brahms' Academic Festival Overture

A performance of the first, most characteristic strophe was recorded in mid-20th century by the Italian-American tenor Mario Lanza, and is still available under the title "Gaudeamus Igitur". Lanza recorded a version of "The Student Prince" (see above). A doo wop version is available by the Escorts, from 1962, perhaps the only doo wop song sung in Latin. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OblYW1uvc

Computer games

In LucasArts' classic point-and-click adventure game Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, the large Nazi thug Arnold sings the first line of this song before being killed by a boulder released by Indiana Jones.

The first few bars of the song are used in the PopCap game BookWorm at level up or game over.

A variation of the song can be heard in various episodes of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, especially when a university or student's facility is being shot.

Secondary Schools

This song is sung by many secondary schools.

Universities

The song is sung at many by many universities including University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Yale Glee Club, University of Illinois Men's Glee Club, at the University of Fribourg's Dies academicus ceremonies on the 15th of November (the feast of St. Albert the Great, University of Otago's Capping Show, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh Glee Club, The Jagiellonian University in Kraków at the inaugurations of academic years (in 2011 for the 648th time)., the Belgian fraternities in Ghent when former members of the presidium enter the cantus room, during the procession at the University of Virginia's convocation ceremony and Victoria Institution adopted the tune to be used in the school song. It is used by Sydney University to both thank and solicit donors.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) adopted the song as its anthem to be played during the medal-awards ceremonies and the opening ceremonies of the Universiades.

See also

• Ars longa, vita brevis
• Anthem

External links

• De Brevitate Vitae performed by the Roosevelt Academy Choir
• Gaudeamus Igitur, lyrics in Latin, English, German, Finnish and Esperanto, midi and mp3 recordings
• Hoisting of the FISU flag during the opening ceremonies of the XXV Summer Universiade Belgrade 2009