Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: opera
Song Meaning of “Siegfried / Dritter Aufzug: “Ewig war ich”” by Richard Wagner
“Ewig war ich” captures a powerful sentiment of longing for an idealized past—the longing for eternal youth, when life was free of pain and of losing oneself in moments of innocence. As the title (“Ewig war ich”) suggests, the entire song is driven by the idea of immortality, which leads Siegfried to explore the depths of his inner self. He sings of a desire for eternal beauty and of pleasure, of a life away from all of life’s woes, of a home, a paradise that has been lost to him.
The themes of salvation and redemption are woven throughout the song, and Siegfried finds himself hoping for the day when he is reunited with his beloved and at peace with the world. Though he desires a perfect home for himself and his beloved, he also realizes the tragedy of life—that the key to everlasting happiness may only be temporary.
The song is a journey of a man’s search for solace and everlasting love, all the while facing the pain of mortality. Despite his weaknesses and faults, Siegfried’s determination carries him through and emboldens him to take it all in—to take heart and not to surrender. He finds hope in a brighter, timeless future; in an eternity that overwhelms him but is filled with beauty and love.