Listen to “Dark Refuge”.
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Lena
Liri — “Prayer”.
Original poem.
Упаси меня, Боже, от “сложных щей”
От тщеславия, Боже, убереги!
От снобизма глупого и вообще…
Ты уж мне, пожалуйста, вправь мозги,
Не позволь твой дар обратить во тщет.
Если я взропщу, Боже, научи
Что отнюдь не я — мера всех вещей.
Подмигни лукаво, мол “Не ропщи!”
Упаси меня, Боже, от “сложных щей”,
И даруй мне, Боже, попроще щи.
Lena Liri
Lyrics of “Dark Refuge”.
German adaptation (lyrics).
Die schatten kriechen, in meiner brust so schwer,
Ein flüstern lockt mich, dem abgrund nah und leer.
Zu stolz die schritte in des lebens pfad,
Ein echo hallt, was diese seele hat
Fernhalten! Mein Gott, der irrweg tief!
Die eigne herrlichkeit, sie treibt mich steif!
Vor dummheit, die nur prahlt und lärmt,
Und all dem tand, der mich verfärbt!
Bewahre mich, Gott, vor den pfaden verschlungen,
Vor eitelkeit, die mein herz besungen!
Vor blindem wahn und leerem spiel,
Zeig mir den weg, der wirklich zählt, so viel!
Ich sehe blinde, die sich selbst verehren,
Ihr eignes bild, das sie so sehr begehren
Die gaben, götter, sie vergeuden wir,
Verloren in dem labyrinth hier
Zurechtrücken! Was ich denk und fühl!
Lass nicht vergehen, was du mir gabst, so kühl!
Vor dummheit, die nur prahlt und lärmt,
Und all dem tand, der mich verfärbt!
Bewahre mich, Gott, vor den pfaden verschlungen,
Vor eitelkeit, die mein herz besungen!
Vor blindem wahn und leerem spiel,
Zeig mir den weg, der wirklich zählt, so viel!
Die gnade, die wir suchen, ist so nah,
Wenn demut leitet, wo ich einst war
Ein tiefer seufzer, ein leiser schrei,
Befreie mich, gott, von all dem leid
Bewahre mich, Gott, vor den pfaden verschlungen,
Vor eitelkeit, die mein herz besungen!
Vor blindem wahn und leerem spiel,
Zeig mir den weg, der wirklich zählt, so viel!
Was wirklich zählt
Translation from German.
The shadows creep, so heavy in my chest,
A whisper lures me, near the abyss and emptiness.
Proud steps on life’s path,
An echo reverberates, what this soul possesses—keep it away!
My God, the wandering path runs deep!
My own glory drives me rigid!
From foolishness that only boasts and makes noise,
And all the worthless things that corrupt me.
Preserve me, God, from these tangled paths,
From vanity that has sung to my heart!
From blind delusion and empty games,
Show me the path that truly matters, so much!
I see the blind who worship themselves,
Their own image—what they so desperately desire.
The gifts, the graces, we waste them here,
Lost in this labyrinth. Put things right!
What I think and feel! Don’t let fade away
What you gave me, so cold!
From foolishness that only boasts and makes noise,
And all the worthless things that corrupt me.
Preserve me, God, from these tangled paths,
From vanity that has sung to my heart!
From blind delusion and empty games,
Show me the path that truly matters, so much!
The grace we seek is so near,
When humility guides where I once was.
A deep sigh, a quiet cry,
Free me, God, from all this suffering.
Preserve me, God, from these tangled paths,
From vanity that has sung to my heart!
From blind delusion and empty games,
Show me the path that truly matters, so much!
What truly matters.
Notes and interpretation.
Die Schatten kriechen in meiner Brust “The shadows creep in my chest” An image of inner anxiety, doubt, depression, or temptation. The metaphor suggests darkness settling within the soul.
Dem Abgrund nah “Close to the abyss” A metaphor for spiritual downfall, despair, or a moral precipice. Represents the danger of losing oneself completely.
Zu stolz die Schritte “Too proud the steps” Criticism of arrogance—a key theme of the song. Pride as a destructive force that leads one astray.
Irrweg “False path, ” “path of delusion” Symbolizes wandering away from truth and spiritual guidance.
Die eigne Herrlichkeit Literally “one’s own magnificence” Here it means self-admiration, arrogance, and ego. The worship of one’s own image and accomplishments.
Tand A very important word. “Tand” means trinkets, cheap baubles, empty ostentation. A symbol of superficial values and materialism—everything that glitters but has no real worth.
Pfade verschlungen “Tangled paths” Complex, misleading roads of life that confuse and lead one astray from truth.
Eitelkeit “Vanity, ” “self-admiration” The obsession with one’s appearance and how others perceive you; shallow narcissism.
Blindem Wahn “Blind delusion” Fanaticism, self-deception, and the inability to see truth because of obsession with false beliefs.
Leeres Spiel “Empty game” A meaningless existence driven by external success, status, and hollow pursuits instead of genuine purpose.
Sich selbst verehren “To worship oneself” Narcissism—the worship of one’s own image and the inability to see beyond the self.
Die Gaben der Götter “The gifts of the gods” Talents, abilities, and life itself—precious gifts that are often wasted and taken for granted.
Labyrinth A classic symbol of life’s complexity and spiritual confusion. Represents being lost in confusion and struggling to find the way.
Zurechtrücken “To set right, ” “to put in order” A plea to organize and clarify one’s thoughts and feelings; to align oneself with truth.
Gnade “Grace"—a religious term meaning God’s mercy and salvation. The ultimate redemption and divine forgiveness that brings peace to the soul.
Demut “Humility” The opposite of arrogance; the key virtue that allows one to receive grace and find true meaning.
Was wirklich zählt “What truly matters” The central message of the song: the search for authentic values beyond material success, vanity, and self-worship. What has real, lasting significance.
Read Part VI: Valkyrie (Apotheosis). Stardust — the story of the album “Inspirïert von Lena Liri” vol.2. Valkyrie.