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English translations of Zwölf Soldatenlieder für vier- oder fünfstimmigen Männerchor, opus 22

by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894)

1. Der Soldat  [sung text not yet checked]
by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894), "Der Soldat", op. 22 (Zwölf Soldatenlieder für vier- oder fünfstimmigen Männerchor) no. 9, published 1847 [ men's chorus ], Breslau: F.E.C. Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht!
Gar schön und groß ist meine Pflicht.
Und [meine Pflicht und mein Gebot:
Ich will]1 sie halten bis zum Tod. 

Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht!
Es zittert nur [ein feiger]2 Wicht
[Und]3 wird verachtet früh und spat
Vom Bürger und vom Kamerad. 

Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht,!
Die Narbe schmückt mein Angesicht
[Und dieses biet ich stark und wahr
Dem Feinde in der Schlachtgefahr.]4

Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht!
Die Kugel nur das Leben bricht, 
Denn auch der Tod vom Feuerrohr
Trägt [meinen]5 Geist zu Gott empor.

Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht!
Durch Pulverdampf zum Siegeslicht! 
Vom Siegeslicht zum Freiheitsstrahl! 
In Freiheit nur zum Todtenmahl!

Text Authorship:

  • by (Friedrich) Ludwig Würkert (1800 - 1876), "Soldat"

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Confirmed with Penelope. Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1834 , Herausgegeben von Theodor Hell, 23. Jahrgang, Leipzig: [J.C. Hinrichsche Buchhandlung], 1834, pages 385-386.

1 Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "seine Pflicht und sein Gebot / Er wird"
2 Rungenhagen: "der feige"
3 Rungenhagen: "Er"
4 Rungenhagen: "Dem Feinde biete ich es dar / In Kampf und Schlacht, in Todsgefahr."; Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "Dem Feinde bietet er es dar / In Kampf und Schlacht, in Todsgefahr."
5 Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "unsern"

by (Friedrich) Ludwig Würkert (1800 - 1876)
1. The soldier
Language: English 
I am a soldier, [I]1 do not quake!
My duty is quite beautiful and great.
And [my duty and my command:
I]2 shall fulfill them unto death.

I am a soldier, [I]1 do not quake!
Only a cowardly wretch quakes]3
[And]4 is scorned early and late
By the citizens and by his comrades.

I am a soldier, [I]1 do not quake!
The scar adorns my face
[And this I offer strongly and truly
To the enemy in the dangers of battle.]5

I am a soldier, [I]1 do not quake!
The bullet only takes my life,
[For]6 death even by the fiery weapon
Carries [my spirit]7 up to God.

I am a soldier, [I]1 do not quake!
Through the fog of gunpowder to the light of victory!
From the light of victory to the beam of freedom!
[In]8 freedom only to the funeral banquet!

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 (Friedrich) Ludwig Würkert (1800 - 1876), "Soldat"
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Translations of titles:
"Der Soldat" = "The soldier"
"Soldat" = "Soldier"

1 Assmayr: "and"
2 Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "his duty and his command, he"
3 Assmayr: "He who trembles is a poor wretch"; Rungenhagen: "Only the cowardly wretch quakes"
4 Assmayr, Rungenhagen: "He"
5 Rungenhagen: "I offer it to the enemy / In combat and battle, in mortal peril."; Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "He offers it to the enemy / In combat and battle, in mortal peril."
6 Assmayr: "Yet"
7 Rungenhagen (when text is repeated in a refrain): "our spirits"
8 Assmayr: "From"


This text was added to the website: 2025-10-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 155

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
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