by
Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
Am Rhein und am Main und am Neckar ist's...
Language: German (Deutsch)
Am Rhein und am Main und am Neckar ist's schön,
Da hab' ich manch herrliches Örtchen gesehn;
Da hab' ich gesehen in Dörfchen und Städtchen
Manch reizendes Weibchen, manch reizendes Mädchen.
Nun laß ich den Neckar, den Rhein und den Main,
Ihr rauschenden Flüsse, euch laß ich nun sein;
Am friedlichsten Flüsschen, im traulichsten Gründchen
Hält itzt mich [gefangen]1 ein niedliches Kindchen.
Ein niedliches Kindchen, wie's keines mehr gibt,
Und wenn es nur wahr ist, und wenn sie mich liebt,
So sucht nur im heiligen römischen Reiche
Den glücklichen Mann, der an Glücke mir gleiche.
Available sung texts: (what is this?)
• C. Sinding About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Confirmed with Friedrich Rückerts Werke in sech Bänden, Herausgegeben von Dr. Conrad Beyer, Zweiter Band, Leipzig: Verlag von Gustav Fock, [1897], page 44.
1 Sinding: "umfangen"
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Karl Seitz (1844 - 1905), "Am Rhein und am Main", op. 68 (Drei Gesänge für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 3, published 1893 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Bosse [sung text not yet checked]
- by Christian Sinding (1856 - 1941), "Am Rhein und am Main und am Neckar ist's schön", op. 64b no. 9, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], from Roland zu Bremen und andere Gedichte von Friedrich Rückert, no. 9, Copenhagen: Wilhelm Hansen [sung text checked 1 time]
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2021-04-19
Line count: 12
Word count: 96
It is beautiful by the Rhine and by the...
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
It is beautiful by the Rhine and by the Main and by the Neckar,
There I have seen many a glorious little spot;
There in little villages and little towns, I have seen
Many a charming woman, many a charming girl.
Now I shall leave the Neckar, the Rhine and the Main,
Ye roaring rivers, I shall now leave you alone;
By the most peaceful little river, in the most familiar vale
I am now held [prisoner]1 by a sweet little child.
A sweet little child, the likes of which shall never be found again,
And if it is only true, and if she loves me,
Then you may look [in vain] in the Holy Roman Empire
For a happy man who equals me in joy.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)
Translations of titles:
"Am Rhein und am Main" = "By the Rhine and by the Main"
"Am Rhein und am Main und am Neckar ist's schön" = "It is beautiful by the Rhine and by the Main and by the Neckar"
"Der glückliche Gefangene" = "The happy prisoner"
1 Sinding: "embraced"
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Der glückliche Gefangene"
This text was added to the website: 2026-03-01
Line count: 12
Word count: 127
