English translations of Zwei Männerchöre, opus 99

by Theodor Podbertsky (1846 - 1913)

1. Das Schwert  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Podbertsky (1846 - 1913), "Das Schwert", op. 99 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 1, published 1898 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Luckhardt's Verlag
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zur Schmiede ging ein junger Held,
Er hatt ein gutes Schwert bestellt.
Doch als er's wog in freier Hand,
Das Schwert er viel zu schwer erfand.

Der alte Schmied den Bart sich streicht:
»Das Schwert ist nicht zu schwer noch leicht,
Zu schwach ist Euer Arm, ich mein,
Doch morgen soll geholfen sein.«

»Nein, heut! bei aller Ritterschaft!
Durch meine, nicht durch Feuers Kraft.«
Der Jüngling spricht's, ihn Kraft durchdringt,
Das Schwert er hoch in Lüften schwingt.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludwig Uhland, erster Band, Verlag der Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, Stuttgart, 1898, page 256.


by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
1. The sword
Language: English 
A young hero betook himself to the smithy,
He had ordered a good sword.
But as he weighed it in his free hand,
He found the sword to be much too heavy.

The old blacksmith stroked his beard:
»The sword is neither too heavy nor too light,
I believe it is your arm that is too weak.
But tomorrow that shall be remedied.«

»No, today! By all knighthood!
Through my strength and not through that of the fire.«
The youth speaks it, strength flows through him,
He swings the sword high in the air.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Das Schwert" = "The sword"
"Schwert" = "Sword"



This text was added to the website: 2020-02-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 94

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Manches Land hab' ich gesehen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Theodor Podbertsky (1846 - 1913), "Manches Land hab' ich gesehen", op. 99 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 2, published 1898 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Luckhardt's Musik-Verlag
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Manches Land hab' ich gesehen, 
   Manches Volk hab' ich geschaut; 
Uebles müsse mir geschehen, 
   Wollt' ich's nicht bekennen laut: 
Nie hat mir gefallen 
       Fremder Lande Brauch; 
       Frei drum sag' ich's auch: 
Deutscher Brauch ist über allen!

Von der Elbe bis zum Rhein, 
   Von dem Rhein bis Ungerland 
Mag der Völker erstes sein, 
   Die ich in der Welt erkannt, 
Kraft und reine Minne, 
       Treue unverzagt, 
       Muth, der Alles wagt, 
Deutschland hält sie stets im Sinne. 

Deutschland, du sollst mächtig sein 
   Ueber jedes Volk der Welt, 
Wie dein Eichenlaub im Hain 
   Ueber alle Wipfel schwellt. 
Mag in wildem Schwanken 
       Volk um Volk vergehn, 
       Du bleibst feste stehn, 
Deutschlands Stärke wird nicht wanken!

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Confirmed with Gottfried Kinkel, Gedichte, Dritte vermehrte Auflage, Stuttgart und Tübingen: J.G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1851, pages 422-423.


by (Johann) Gottfried Kinkel (1815 - 1882)
2. I have viewed many a land
Language: English 
I have viewed many a land,
   I have seen many a nation of people;
May evil befall me
   If I be not willing to confess it loudly:
I have never taken pleasure in
       The customs of foreign lands;
       Therefore I say it freely:
German customs are above all others!

From the Elbe [river] to the Rhine,
   From the Rhine to Hungary
The priority of [all] nations
   That I have recognized in the world
May be strength and pure love,
       Fearless faithfulness,
       Courage, that dares everything;
Germany always keeps these well in mind.

Germany, you shall be a power
   Over every other nation on earth,
As the leaves of the oak in the grove
   Swell above all the tree-tops.
May in wild swaying
       Nation upon nation perish,
       You shall remain standing firmly,
Germany's strength shall not waver!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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: 

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Subtitle: "(Song of Barbarossa)"

Translations of title(s):
"Deutschland über Alles" = "Germany above all else"
"Manches Land hab' ich gesehen" = "I have viewed many a land"



This text was added to the website: 2020-02-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 136

Translation © by Sharon Krebs