An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lied
Lied, n., from the equiv. MidHG. liet(d), OHG. liod, n., ‘song’ (Goth. *liuþ, n., may be inferred from liuþareis, m., ‘singer,’ and liuþân, ‘to sing praises’); comp. Du. lied, AS. leóþ, n., ‘song.’ The Teut. term for poetical productions, such as existed far earlier than the time of Tacitus (comp. “carmina antiqua,” Germania, 2). Poetry flourished long before the adoption of the letters of the runic alphabet, which was derived from the Lat.