And as the Rhine Bridge hove in view, 
darkness descended; 'twas soon night,
As then flowing by I saw Father Rhine 
a-gleaming through the moonlight.

The stony-faced houses staring at me 
as if with an air of myst'ry
Seemed longing to tell me legends and tales 
of holy Cologne and its hist'ry.

The winds when they blow still wake the thoughts 
of burnt books and men. Hear their moaning! 
The people sang and the church bells rang, 
a Kyrie eleison intoning.

Folly and evil had full reign like dogs 
for whom there's nothing sacred.
Today's direct descendant's the same: 
Righteous religious hatred.

I bored around an hour or so until, 
bored, and, yes, estranged, such
Great Prussian soldiers are still on show:  
Things really haven't changed much.