The riflemen's drinking song | The riflemen are a brisk lot

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by Friedrich Konrad Müller von der Werra (1823 - 1881)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Schützen‑Trinklied

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Chosen for Diff

Die Schützen sind ein frisches Volk
    Zu Stadt
    Und Land,
Wie man kein muntrers hat 
Und teurers fand!
Drum lassen sie sich's wohl auch sein:
    Bringt Wein,
    Schenkt ein!
Ihr Brüder bringt's euch zu
     Auf du und du!

Die Schützen sind ein frohes Volk 
    Zu Stadt
    Und Land,
Sie kämpfen kühne That 
Und halten Stand!
Drum singen sie froh im Verein:
    Bringt Wein,
    Schenkt ein!
Hoch leb' zu jeder Stund'
    Der Schützenbund!

Die Schützen sind ein freies Volk 
    Zu Stadt
    Und Land,
Sie halten kurzen Rath,
Gehn Hand in Hand!
Drum jubeln sie auch drauf und drein:
    Bringt Wein,
    Schenkt ein!
Den Stutzen nehmt zur Hand
    Für's Vaterland!

Confirmed with Das Buch der Lieder von Müller von der Werra, Leipzig: Ludwig Denicke, 1866, pages 290-291.

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Konrad Müller von der Werra (1823 - 1881), "Schützen-Trinklied", written 1863, appears in Das Buch der Lieder, in 5. Trinklieder [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 Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "Schützen-Trinklied", published 1880 [ men's chorus ], from Neue Gesänge für den Männerchor, Heft 2, no. 3, St. Gallen, Zürich: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Kuntze (1817 - 1883), 1863 [ men's chorus ] [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The riflemen's drinking song", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-08-20
Line count: 30
Word count: 108

The riflemen's drinking song

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Chosen for Diff

The riflemen are a brisk lot
    In the city
    And the country,
As there are none merrier
And dearer to be found!
And therefore, they do themselves well:
    Bring wine,
    Pour it out!
Ye brethren, drink it up
    As good friends!

The riflemen are a joyful lot
    In the city
    And the country,
With bold exploits they do battle
And are steadfast!
Therefore, they sing in joyful unison:
    Bring wine,
    Pour it out!
Three cheers at all hours
    For the alliance of the riflemen!

The riflemen are an unfettered lot
    In the city
    And the country,
They take quick counsel [with each other],
They go hand and hand!
Therefore, they also rejoice up and down:
    Bring wine,
    Pour it out!
Take your carbine in your hand
    For our homeland!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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 Friedrich Konrad Müller von der Werra (1823 - 1881), "Schützen-Trinklied", written 1863, appears in Das Buch der Lieder, in 5. Trinklieder
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-08-21
Line count: 30
Word count: 129