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Die Fahnen wehn! Auf ins Gewehr, Den Säbel in die Faust! Das deutsche Volk -- ein großes Heer, Das von den Alpen bis zum Meer Ein zürnend Wetter braust. Es klopft an uns're Pforten an Des Fremdlings Uebermuth! Da opfert jeder deutsche Mann Mit Freuden Gut und Blut. Die Fahnen wehn im Morgenwind: Gott schenk' uns Schlachtenglück! Wir müssen siegen und geschwind, Dann kehren wir zu Weib und Kind, Zu Haus und Hof zurück. Die gold'ne Saat, sie wallt und blinkt In sommerlicher Pracht. Auf, Schnitter, eure Ernte winkt Auf blut'gem Feld der Schlacht. Und von Boulogne der Adler höhnt In stolzem Kaiserflug. Doch der das Abenteuer krönt, Der Gott des Siegs, der euch verwöhnt, Er ruft: Es ist genug! Die Sonne selbst von Austerlitz Verbirgt ihr glorreich Licht! Euch leuchte unser Zornesblitz, Der aus den Wettern bricht! Ihr habt den Brief der Schmach begehrt Mit frechem Uebermuth! Den Brief, der nimmer uns entehrt, Wir schreiben ihn mit uns'rem Schwert, Wir schreiben ihn mit Blut. Und Gott der Herr führt uns're Hand Und straft des Feindes Hohn -- Und feurig flammt es an der Wand Und nieder stürzt sein Thron. Die Wogen rollt der Vater Rhein Die Rebenhöh'n entlang! Und der hier wächst, der deutsche Wein, Wird nie in eurer Kelter sein, Er trägt nicht fremden Zwang. Die Fahnen hoch und sturmesschnell In Feindesland hinein! Wir trinken aus dem frischen Quell Dort den Champagnerwein. Und naht der Tod -- wir zagen nicht! Leb' wohl, du schöne Welt! Nacht decke unser Angesicht, Doch ringsum wird von freud'gem Licht Das deutsche Land erhellt. Und Süd und Nord verknüpft zum Bund Der Main, ein Silberband! Wir legen einen festen Grund Dem ein'gen Vaterland.
F. Holstein sets stanzas 1-2, 5-6
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Rudolf Gottschall, Kriegslieder, Berlin: Franz Lipperheide, 1870, pages 7-9
Authorship:
- by Rudolph von Gottschall (1823 - 1909), "Kriegslied", subtitle: "(Juli 1870)", first published 1870 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Franz (Friedrich) von Holstein (1826 - 1878), "Kriegslied", op. 35 (Sechs Lieder für Männerchor ) no. 6, published 1875, stanzas 1-2,5-6 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Johann) Albert Gottlieb Methfessel (1785 - 1869), "Kriegslied", published 1874 [ vocal quartet for male voices ], Schleusingen, Glaser [sung text not yet checked]
- by H. Vagedes , "Kriegslied 1870" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2017-05-13
Line count: 54
Word count: 277
The flags flutter! Arise, into the fray, Take the sabre in your fist! The German people, a great army That, from the Alps to the sea, Roars [like] a furious storm. At our gates there knocks The audacity of a stranger! Thereupon every German man joyfully Offers up his possessions and his blood. The flags flutter in the morning wind: May God give us good fortune in the battle! We must be victorious, and quickly, Then we shall return to wife and child, To house and farm. The golden grain, it surges and shines In summerly splendour. Arise, reapers, your harvest beckons Upon the bloody field of battle. And from Boulogne the eagle scoffs [at us] In proud imperial flight. But He who crowns the adventure, The God of victory, who has indulged you, He calls out: It is enough! Even the sun of Austerlitz Veils its glorious light! Upon you may gleam the lightning of our fury, Which breaks forth from the storms! With brazen haughtiness you desired The letter of dishonour! The letter, which never dishonours us, We write it with our swords, We write it with blood. The Lord God guides our Hand And punishes the derision of the enemy And it shall blaze flamingly upon the wall And his throne shall be toppled. Father Rhine rolls his waves Along the hills of vineyards! And the German grapes that grow here, Shall never be in your winepress, They do not tolerate foreign coercion. Raise high the flags and as quickly as a storm [Enter] into the enemy’s land! From the fresh well-spring there We shall drink champagne. And if death nears -- we do not hesitate! Farewell, you beautiful world! May night cover our faces, But all around with a joyful light The German land shall be illuminated. And united to a coalition are south and north By the silvery ribbon of the Main River! We lay a firm foundation For the united Fatherland.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Kriegslied" = "War song"
"Kriegslied 1870" = "War song 1870"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolph von Gottschall (1823 - 1909), "Kriegslied", subtitle: "(Juli 1870)", first published 1870
This text was added to the website: 2017-05-13
Line count: 54
Word count: 326