The German Rhine | They shall not have it

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by Nikolaus Becker (1809 - 1845)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Der deutsche Rhein

(Sung text for setting by J. Eickhoff)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT ENG FRE

Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,
Den freien deutschen Rhein,
Ob sie wie gierige Raben,
Sich heiser danach schrein,

Solang er ruhig wallend
Sein grünes Kleid noch trägt,
Solang ein Ruder schallend
In seine Wogen schlägt.

Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,
Den freien deutschen Rhein,
Solang sich Herzen laben
An seiner Feuerwein,

Solang in seinem Strome
Noch fest die Felsen stehn,
Solang sich hohe Dome
In seinem Spiegel sehn.

Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,
Den freien deutschen Rhein,
Solang noch kühne Knaben
den Waffen gerne weih'n,

Solang die Flosse hebet
Ein Fisch auf seinem Grund,
Solang ein Lied noch lebet
In seiner Sänger Mund.

Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,
Den freien deutschen Rhein,
Bis seine Flut begraben
Des letzten Manns Gebein!

Note: see de Musset's "response", Le Rhin allemand

Composition:

Johann Dietrich Eickhoff

Volksthümliche Lieder der Deutschen im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert

Text Authorship:

by Nikolaus Becker (1809 - 1845), "Der deutsche Rhein (an Alphonse de Lamartine)"

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The German Rhine", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le Rhin allemand, chant patriotique", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Dr. Gerrit den Hartogh , Melanie Trumbull

This text was added to the website: 2004-06-30
Line count: 28
Word count: 122

The German Rhine

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Eickhoff)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

They shall not have it,
The free German Rhine,
Though they like greedy ravens
Scream themselves hoarse after it,

As long as, peacefully flowing,
It still wears its green garb,
As long as even one oar resoundingly
Strikes into its waves.

They shall not have it,
The free German Rhine,
As long as hearts refresh themselves
With its fiery wine,

As long as within its current
The rocks still stand firmly,
As long as lofty cathedrals
Can see themselves in its mirror.

They shall not have it,
The free German Rhine,
As long as courageous lads
Court slender maidens,

As long as a fin is lifted
By a fish within its depths,
As long as a song still lives
In the mouths of its singers.

They shall not have it,
The free German Rhine,
Until its floodwaters have buried
The bones of the last man!

Alternate title: "Patriotic Song"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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 Nikolaus Becker (1809 - 1845), "Der deutsche Rhein (an Alphonse de Lamartine)"
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This text was added to the website: 2013-07-12
Line count: 28
Word count: 145