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Wo geht der Weg zum freien Land? Vorbei an hoher Felsenwand, Wo sich der Aar zum Himmel hebt Und über blauen Tiefen schwebt! Die Heerde graset still empor, Der Strom schäumt durch's granit’ne Thor: O sei gegrüßt, mein Vaterland, Vom Rhein bis an den Rhonestrand! Wohin, wohin, du Menschenkind, Im Sommerwehen süß und lind? Steig' auf zum grünen Alpenhang, Ist dir's da unten schwer und bang! Dort breitet sich die Freiheit aus, Dort steht ihr erstes Mutterhaus; Die Firnen glühen, Brand an Brand, -- Wie ist es schön, das Vaterland! Der ew'gen Jugend Rosenschein, Wie leuchtest du so frisch herein Und hebst die Seele aus dem Thal Und küssest sie im Abendstrahl! O lod're, freier Mannesmuth, Glüh' auf, wie unsrer Alpen Gluth, Und sei geschirmt, o Vaterland, Durch deiner Söhne starke Hand!
Confirmed with Robert Weber (ed.), Die poetische Nationalliteratur der deutschen Schweiz. Musterstücke aus den Dichtungen der besten schweizerischen Schriftsteller von Haller bis auf die Gegenwart, Dritter Band, Glarus: Verlagsbuchhandlung von J. Vogel, 1867, page 362.
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Weber (1824 - 1896), "Das Vaterland" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-09-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 136
Where is the path to the free land? Past a high rocky wall, Where the eagle rises toward the sky And soars over the blue depths! The herd quietly grazes its way upward, The river foams through its granite gate: Oh, greetings to you, my homeland, From the Rhine to the banks of the Rhone! Whither, whither, you human child, In the sweet and gentle wafting of summer? Climb up to the green alpine slope, If it is too heavy and anxious for you down below! There on high freedom opens out, There stands freedom's birthplace; The firn snows glow, flame beside flame, -- How beautiful it is, the homeland! You rosy glow of eternal youth, How you shine into the valley so freshly And lift my soul out of the valley And kiss it in the rays of evening! Oh, flare up, free manly courage, Arise in fervour like the glow of our Alps, And may you be protected, oh homeland, Through the strong hands of your sons!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Robert Weber (1824 - 1896), "Das Vaterland"
Go to the general view
This text was added to the website: 2026-11-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 172