Up onto the mountains I'd like to go

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by Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Enslin (1819 - 1875)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Auf die Berge

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Auf die Berge möcht' ich hin,
   Mit den frohen Lerchen ziehn!
   Muthig über Fels und Kluft,
   In die frische, freie Luft!

Über Wolken möcht' ich stehn! 
   Über Länder möcht' ich sehn!
   Ungetrübtes Lebensglück 
   Lächelt dort dem freien Blick!

Droben nur erstarkt der Geistm
   Der sich von den Fesseln reißt!
   Unten in des Thales Haft 
   Schwindet ihm die freie Kraft!

Juble laut mein frohes Herz!
   Schwing' Dich selig himmelwärts!
   Senk' Dein Weh' in tiefsten See!
   Bergeshöh' ist himmelsnäh'!

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• F. Messer

F. Messer sets stanzas 1, 2, 4

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Confirmed with Der schwäbische Postbote. Feuilleton zur Neuen Augsburger Zeitung, Vierzehnter Jahrgang (20. Juni 1880), Nr. 81, page 475.

Text Authorship:

by Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Enslin (1819 - 1875), "Auf die Berge!" [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: 2026-10-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 80

Up onto the mountains I'd like to go

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

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Up onto the mountains I'd like to go,
   To travel with the joyful larks!
   Courageously over rock and crag,
   Into the fresh, free air!

I'd like to stand above the clouds!
   I would like to gaze over the lands!
   Unclouded joy of life
   Smiles there for the free gaze!

Only up there, one's spirit grows strong,
   The spirit that tears off its chains!
   Down in the confinement of the valley
   Its free strength wanes!

Rejoice loudly, my joyful heart!
   Soar blissfully heavenward!
   Sink your woe into the deepest lake!
   Mountain heights mean nearness to heaven!

Available sung text translations: ← What is this?

• F. Messer

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Translations of titles:
"Auf die Berge" = "Up onto the mountains"
"Auf die Berge!" = "Up onto the mountains!"

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. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Enslin (1819 - 1875), "Auf die Berge!"
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This text was added to the website: 2026-10-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 98