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Frisch auf, zum letzten Kampf und Streit, Ihr Männer [all']1 und Knaben, Frankreich will Deutschlands Herrlichkeit Vernichten und begraben. Rasch nehmt die Büchsen von der Wand, Die scharfen Schwerter nehmt zur Hand, Frankreich will Deutschlands Herrlichkeit Vernichten und begraben! Nicht gilts allein dem deutschen Rhein, Das Höchste gilt's erraffen, Ganz Deutschland strahlt in Waffenschein, Das Volk in Wehr und Waffen! Es blitzt in jeder Hand das Schwert, Wir kämpfen treu für Haus und Herd. Ganz Deutschland strahlt in Waffenschein, Das Volk in Wehr und Waffen! [In]2 unsrer Brust glüh't Zorn und Haß, Es gilt die Glut zu kühlen, Den Spartern gleich am Felsenpaß Der stolzen Thermopylen. Und naht sich der Franzosen Heer, Den Persern gleich, wie Sand am Meer, Wir schützen treu ohn' Unterlass Den deutschen Thermopylen. Frisch in den Kampf, die Trommeln rührt, Und Herz und Arm erhoben! Der greise Heldenkaiser führt Uns stolz in's Schlachtentoben. Wir folgen seinem Wink der Hand Zum Kampf für Gott und Vaterland. Frisch in den Kampf, die Trommeln rührt, Und Herz und [Hand]3 erhoben! Und wer da fällt im Kampf als Held Für uns're heil'ge Sache, An dessen Wahlplatz steht und hält Die deutsche Ehre Wache. O Vaterland, nimm unser Blut, Wir kämpfen für das höchste Gut. Du Gott, hoch über'm Sternenzelt, Schirm' Deutschlands heil'ge Sache!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Die Kriegs-Poesie der Jahre 1870-1871, geordnet zu einer poetischen Geschichte von Ernst Hensing et al., Erster Band, Mannheim: Buch- Buch Steindruckerei von J. Schneider, 1873, pages 278-280.
1 Bronsart: "alt'"
2 Bronsart: "Nicht"
3 Bronsart: "Arm"
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Zeise (1822 - 1914), "Frisch auf, zum letzten Kampf und Streit!", written 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 Ingeborg (Starck) Bronsart von Schellendorf (1840 - 1913), "Frisch auf zum letzten Kampf", published 1871 [voice and piano], from Drei Lieder, no. 1. [text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "Go boldly forth to the last campaign and battle!", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 213
Go boldly forth to the last campaign and battle, You [men all]1 and young lads, France wishes to destroy and bury The glory of Germany. Quickly take the rifles from the wall, Take up the sharp swords, France wishes to destroy and bury The glory of Germany. It is not only for the German Rhein, The highest must be seized, All of Germany glows in the light of weapons, The people in defense and weapons! A sword flashes in every hand, We battle faithfully for home and hearth. All of Germany glows in the light of weapons, The people in defense and weapons! [Within]2 our breast burns anger and hate, We must cool the fire, Like the Spartans at the mountain pass Of proud Thermopylae. The French army is approaching us, As the Persians did [back then], like the sands at the sea, We faithfully and unceasingly guard The German [equivalent of the pass of] Thermopylae. Boldly into battle, roll the drums, And go with lifted hearts and arms! The aged hero-emperor leads Us proudly into the riot of battle. We follow the beckoning of his hand To battle for God and the fatherland. Boldly into battle, roll the drums, And go with lifted hearts and [hands]3! And whoever falls in battle as a hero For our holy cause, At the place where he fell stands German honour and keeps vigil. Oh Fatherland, take our blood, We fight for the highest good. You God, high above the starry firmament, Protect Germany's holy cause!
1 Bronsart: "old men"
2 Bronsart: "Not"
3 Bronsart: "arms"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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 Heinrich Zeise (1822 - 1914), "Frisch auf, zum letzten Kampf und Streit!", written 1870
This text was added to the website: 2013-06-24
Line count: 40
Word count: 253