Mahler began writing his song cycle Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy’s Magic Horn) based on texts of German folk poems assembled by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano in 1887. There are a total of 21 songs set for voice and piano (many were also arranged by Mahler for voice and orchestra) of which Urlicht is the final song, written in 1893. Mahler used the song as the fourth movement of his Second (Resurrection) Symphony where it provides a quiet, meditative interlude before the apocalyptic finale. The song expresses the longing for relief from worldly woes, closing with the heartfelt hope that "Dear God will give me a little light, Will light my way to eternal blessed life."

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