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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen, 
Singt's im hohen Jubelchor; 
Wie der Strom, dem Firn entflossen, 
Ström' es voll und rein hervor! 
Und auf seinen klaren Wellen 
Wiege sich der Liebe Drang! 
Blicke leuchten, Herzen schwellen 
Bei des Liedes Feierklang. 

Über dir, du Alpengarten, 
Strahlt des Kreuzes heilig Bild, 
Glänzt von deinen Felsenwarten 
Als des Landes Hort und Schild, 
Weist empor zum wunderbaren, 
Zum allmächt'gen Gott und Herrn: 
Ihm vertrau', mein Volk! Bewahren 
Wird er seinen schönsten Stern! 

Rein und weiß wie unsrer Firnen 
Lichtumwobner Perlenkranz, 
Streut das Kreuz auf ihre Stirnen 
Ew'ger Wahrheit Himmelsglanz. 
Auf, und schreite durch die Lande 
Rein, o Freiheit, göttlich wahr! 
Ja, noch muß am fernsten Strande 
Auferstehen dein Altar! 

Und dein Purpur stammt von oben, 
Wo des Vaters Liebe quillt, 
All' umschlingt in Treu' verwoben, 
Jeglich Sehnen wonnig stillt. 
Also blüh' auf deinen Pfaden 
Heil'ge Liebe gottentstammt, 
Herrscherin von Gottes Gnaden, 
Freiheit, die voll Liebe flammt! 

Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen, 
Brüder, singt es fern und nah. 
Von dir, Mutter, all' umschlossen 
Sind wir dein Helvetia. 
Dein im Leben, dein im Sterben, 
Dein bei Sturm und Sonnenlicht! 
Brich, o Welt, zerbrich in Scherben, 
Lieb' und Freiheit sterben nicht! 

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Das Weisse Kreuz im Rothen Felde. Concurrenz-Gedichte, Leipzig: [Weber], 1864, pages 13-14.


Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen" [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 Johann Wolfensperger (b. 1845), "Das weisse Kreuz im rothen Feld", published 1873 [ ttbb chorus ], from Zehn neue Lieder für Männerchor, no. 3, Zürich: Fries [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-04-19
Line count: 40
Word count: 193

Sing the song of the Swiss confederates
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Sing the song of the Swiss confederates,
Sing it in a lofty choir of rejoicing;
Like the river that flowed down from the snow,
May it stream forth full and pure!
And upon its clear waves
May the urging of love rock itself!
Gazes shine, hearts swell
During the solemn sounding of the song.

Above you, you alpine garden,
The holy image of the cross stands radiant,
It sparkles from your rocky look-outs
As the country’s refuge and shield,
Points upward to the wondrous,
To the almighty God and Lord:
Trust in Him, my people! He shall
Protect His most beautiful star!

As pure and white as the pearly chain 
Of our snows, woven about with light,
The cross strews upon their brows
The heavenly radiance of eternal truth.
Arise and stride through the lands
Pure, oh freedom, divinely true!
Yes, upon the farthest shore
Your altar must yet arise!

And your crimson comes from on high
Where the Father's love flows forth,
Embracing all who are entwined in faithfulness,
Blissfully stilling every yearning.
May thus bloom upon your pathways
Holy love derived from God,
Ruler by way of God's mercies,
Freedom that flames full of love!

Sing the song of the Swiss confederates,
Brethren, sing it far and near.
All of us gathered in your arms, Mother,
We are your Helvetia.
Yours in life, yours in death,
Yours in storm and in sunlight!
Break, oh world, break into shards,
Love and freedom do not perish!

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of titles:
"Das weisse Kreuz im rothen Feld" = "The white cross on the red background"
"Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen" = "Sing the song of the Swiss confederates"


Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
    Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Singt das Lied der Eidgenossen"
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2025-04-22
Line count: 40
Word count: 246

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This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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