Belov'd and lovely river,
so beautiful and bright,
with all thy spells of wild romance,
arise before my sight!
The lov'd one fills her lover's lay,
be thou the theme of mine;
the burden of it evermore
heaven's blessing on the Rhine!

O thou Cybele of rivers,
that castle-crowned dost shine,
with legend-haunted ruin grey
and graceful wreathing vine.
E'en stranger-pilgrims feel thy charm
and worship at thy shrine!
How then how we, thine own, must cry
heaven's blessing on the Rhine!

Could I once more, but once more
thine isles and lov'd shore seek!
I think of thee, I dream of thee,
till tears roll down my cheek.
Oh take me dying to thy breast,
my last thought shall be thine,
my last faint faltering sigh shall be
heaven's blessing on the Rhine!