To be sure, the noble German Rhine
Truly has many good mountains,
From whence it pours out spirits for us,
To singing and ringing, to dancing and sport.
But the brilliance of its best mountains
Does not compare in bright radiance
To Gutenberg, whose wreath of fame
Greens in old Mainz on the Rhine.
 
From this Gutenberg light shone
Brightly out into all the lands,
Light that boldly makes its way through dark night
And, without a sword, fought many a fight.
From his press there sprang a must (i.e., for wine)
That soon intoxicated the entire world,
That freed the world from much grillwork (i.e., prison)
A must that it would not exchange for any wine.
 
From the good mountain good wine flowed forth
Into the dark vat. Raise it to the light!
Pour out its fiery sun-gold!
Arise! Clink and drink! thus duty commands.
Three cheers for you I proclaim here,
For you who through the press frees us from oppression.
Hail Gutenberg! Clink your glasses, drink to
The fiery spirit of the good mountain.