Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: opera
Song Meaning of “Siegfried / Erster Aufzug: “Du hast die Stücken, schändlicher Stumpfer!”” by Richard Wagner
This piece from the opera Siegfried is a dialogue between two characters. The protagonist, Siegfried, has come upon the broken pieces of a sword and hears the voice of Mime, an old cunning dwarf, exclaiming in indignation at the shameful state of the pieces.
Siegfried, unaware of Mime’s presence, is determined to reforge this sword and prove himself worthy of the kingship that he believes will be his destiny. In this moment of resolution, Mime’s words serve as a reminder of his foreboding task ahead.
The words portray Mime’s scorn for the broken sword, yet they simultaneously encourage Siegfried to stay strong and keep fighting. Together, they serve as a call to action: urging Siegfried to not give up but instead to face the challenge of forging the sword and ultimately earn the recognition that comes from completing this difficult feat.
The phrase can represent our own personal struggles in life, in which we feel the weight of the difficulties that lie ahead and become discouraged by their apparent impossibility. We are reminded, however, that nothing is truly impossible with determination and the willingness to take risks. The reward of accomplishing what we thought was too difficult is great, and so our courage and resilience must remain steadfast until our victory is achieved.