The first ray of sun light 
Brightens up our prison cell
And dulcet morning dreams 
Are blowing around the sorrowful foreheads.
A silent garden waves at home
At the beloved river Rhine,
Which is greeted with the smiling 
Red light of the sunset.

And I, and you, we ramble 
Hand in hand in the red sunlight,
And we look down from the high terrace 
Into the golden land,
We are like children again, 
Innocent, happy, and free,
As if we had not learnt yet 
What parting, o what renouncing means.

The sails are moving past 
The blue river bank,
We look at each other full of longing – 
Alack – the dream has melted.
We both are imprisoned, 
We are kept in chains,
And our anthem 
Unifies our suffering.