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Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht! Gar schön und groß ist meine Pflicht. Und meine Pflicht und mein Gebot: Ich will sie halten bis zum Tod. Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht! Es zittert nur ein feiger Wicht Und 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. Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht! Die Kugel nur das Leben bricht, Denn auch der Tod vom Feuerrohr Trägt meinen Geist zu Gott empor. Ich bin Soldat, ich zittre nicht! Durch Pulverdampf zum Siegeslicht! Vom Siegeslicht zum Freiheitsstrahl! In Freiheit nur zum Todtenmahl!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesConfirmed with Penelope. Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1834 , Herausgegeben von Theodor Hell, 23. Jahrgang, Leipzig: [J.C. Hinrichsche Buchhandlung], 1834, pages 385-386.
Text Authorship:
- by (Friedrich) Ludwig Würkert (1800 - 1876), "Soldat" [author's text checked 1 time 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- by Ignaz Assmayer (1790 - 1862), "Soldat", 1854 [ voice and piano ], unpublished, confirmed with the manuscript in Huldigung der Tonsetzer Wiens an Ihre Majestät die allerdurchlauchtigste Frau Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, Kaiserin von Österreich, Königin von Ungarn und Böhmen etc. Überreicht von der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde des österreichischen Kaiserstaates 1854 held in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Karl Friedrich Rungenhagen (1778 - 1851), "Der Soldat" [ men's chorus ] [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 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 120
I am a soldier, I do not quake! My duty is quite beautiful and great. And my duty and my command: I shall fulfill them unto death. I am a soldier, I do not quake! Only a cowardly wretch quakes And is scorned early and late By the citizens and by his comrades. I am a soldier, I do not quake! The scar adorns my face And this I offer strongly and truly To the enemy in the dangers of battle. I am a soldier, I do not quake! The bullet only takes my life, For death even by the fiery weapon Carries my spirit up to God. I am a soldier, I do not quake! Through the fog of gunpowder to the light of victory! From the light of victory to the beam of freedom! In freedom only to the funeral banquet!
About the headline (FAQ)
View text with all available footnotesTranslations of titles:
"Der Soldat" = "The soldier"
"Soldat" = "Soldier"
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Friedrich) Ludwig Würkert (1800 - 1876), "Soldat"
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 155