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Wo geht der Weg zum freien Land? Vorbei an [hoher]1 Felsenwand, Wo sich der Aar zum Himmel hebt Und über blauen Tiefen schwebt! Die Heerde graset still empor, Der Strom schäumt durch's granit’ne Thor: O sei gegrüßt, mein Vaterland, Vom Rhein bis an den Rhonestrand! Wohin, wohin, du Menschenkind, Im Sommerwehen süß und lind? Steig' auf zum grünen Alpenhang, Ist [dir's]2 da unten schwer und bang! Dort breitet sich die Freiheit aus, Dort steht ihr erstes Mutterhaus; Die Firnen glühen, Brand an Brand, -- Wie [ist es schön, das]3 Vaterland! Der ew'gen Jugend Rosenschein, Wie leuchtest du so frisch herein Und hebst die Seele aus dem Thal Und küssest sie im Abendstrahl! O lod're, freier Mannesmuth, Glüh' auf, wie [unsrer Alpen Gluth]4, Und sei geschirmt, o Vaterland, Durch deiner Söhne starke Hand!
Confirmed with Robert Weber (ed.), Die poetische Nationalliteratur der deutschen Schweiz. Musterstücke aus den Dichtungen der besten schweizerischen Schriftsteller von Haller bis auf die Gegenwart, Dritter Band, Glarus: Verlagsbuchhandlung von J. Vogel, 1867, page 362.
1 Kamm: "steiler"2 Kamm: "dir"
3 Kamm: "bist du schön, mein"
4 Kamm: "unsre Alpenglut"
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Weber (1824 - 1896), "Das Vaterland" [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), "Das Vaterland", op. 45 (Liedersaal für Frauenchor. 90 drei- und vierstimmige Lieder für Schule, Haus und Verein) no. 21, published 1896 [ ssa chorus ], Zürich & Leipzig: Hug [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-09-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 136
Where is the path to the free land? Past a [high]1 rocky wall, Where the eagle rises toward the sky And soars over the blue depths! The herd quietly grazes its way upward, The river foams through its granite gate: Oh, greetings to you, my homeland, From the Rhine to the banks of the Rhone! Whither, whither, you human child, In the sweet and gentle wafting of summer? Climb up to the green alpine slope, If it is too heavy and anxious for you down below! There [on high] freedom opens out, There stands [freedom's] birthplace; The firn snows glow, flame beside flame, -- How [beautiful it is, the]2 homeland! You rosy glow of eternal youth, How you shine [into the valley] so freshly And lift my soul out of the valley And kiss it in the rays of evening! Oh, flare up, free manly courage, Arise in fervour like [the glow of our Alps]3, And [may you] be protected, oh homeland, Through the strong hands of your sons!
1 Kamm: "steep"
2 Kamm: "you are beautiful, my"
3 Kamm: "our alpine glow"
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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Robert Weber (1824 - 1896), "Das Vaterland"
This text was added to the website: 2026-11-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 172