Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
If you wish to reprint translations, please use the Reprint Basket (upper right hand corner).
Reminder: You must always use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Sankt Michel, der vor Gottes Thron Hält mit den Engeln Wache, Du bist der Deutschen Schutzpatron; Entscheide unsre Sache! Tu um dein Schwert, zäum' auf dein Roß Und zeuch voran dem Heere! Es gilt die deutsche Ehre! Sankt Michel, salva nos! Du zwangst den stolzen Satanas Mit Ketten einst und Banden, Mach' auch der Feinde Stolz und Haß, Du starker Held, zu Schanden! Uns schreckt kein Speer und kein Geschoß, Nur vor den bösen Zagen, Die falsche Treue tragen - Sankt Michel, salva nos! Du führst die Seelen himmelan, Die zum Allvater wallen, O sei auch unser Reisgespann, Wenn wir am Blachfeld fallen! Ein's, Herre, bitten wir dich bloß: Führ' uns nicht eh' von hinnen, Eh' wir den Sieg gewinnen! Sankt Michel, salva nos!
Text Authorship:
- by Ottokar Kernstock (1848 - 1928), appears in Aus dem Zwingergärtlein, first published 1901 [author's text not yet checked 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 Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg (1874 - 1951), "Der deutsche Michel", subtitle: "Ein Schlachtlied", 1914-5 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "The German Michael", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Alberto Pedrotti
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 123
Saint Michael who before the Throne of God keeps watch with the angels, you are the Germans' patron saint; decide our cause! Put on your sword, bridle your horse and advance before the army! The German honour is at stake! Saint Michael, salva nos1! You once compelled proud Satan with chains and fetters, so wreck the enemies' haughtiness and hatred as well, you Strong Hero! No spear, no bullet scares us, yet save us from malicious tongues that betray us - Saint Michael, salva nos! You guide the souls to heaven who make a pilgrimage to God, the father of all, o be our companion, too, when we fall on the field! Lord, we only ask You for one thing: do not let us pass away before we bear the palm of victory! Saint Michael, salva nos!
1 Latin for "save us"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann. Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Ottokar Kernstock (1848 - 1928), appears in Aus dem Zwingergärtlein, first published 1901
This text was added to the website: 2010-07-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 137