O Schweiz, wie bist du schön
Language: German (Deutsch)
Die Matten grünen, die Alpen glühn,
Die Wälder rauschen, die Reben blühn,
Zu den Wolken steigen die Bergeshöhn.
O Schweiz, o Schweiz[,] wie bist Du schön!
Auf Firnen der helle demantne Schnee[,]
Im Thale der blaue krystallne See!
Es stürzt die Caskade, es braust der Föhn[;]
O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön!
Das Heerdengeläute, wie klingt es so weit,
Du Sennenbube, du Sennenmaid!
Fort trägt euern Reigen der Winde Wehn!
O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön!
Die Menschen umschlinget ein Liebesband,
Sie reichen sich alle die Bruderhand;
Wie die Alpen so fest und treu sie stehn;
O Schweiz, o Schweiz, wie bist Du schön!
Confirmed with Die Alpenpost. Blätter zur Förderung des Touristenverkehrs, zur Hebung der Curanstalten und der montanen Industrien und speziell zur Hege und Pflege der alpinen Wissenschaft , Band I. (Glarus, 17. Dezember 1871), Nro. 29, page 425.
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 Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön", published 1877 [ men's chorus a cappella ], from Neue Gesänge für den Männerchor, no. 3, St. Gallen, Huber & Co [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Kamm (1845 - 1897), "O Schweiz, wie bist du schön", published 1880 [ men's chorus ], from Neue Gesänge für den Männerchor, Heft 1, no. 4, St. Gallen, Zürich: Hug [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!", 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: 2026-08-16
Line count: 16
Word count: 109
Oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
The meadows grow green, the Alps glow,
The forests sough, the grape-vines blossom,
The mountain heights rise to the clouds.
Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
Upon the corn snow the bright diamond-like snow[,]
In the valley the blue crystalline lake!
The cascade plunges, the [Alpine-]föhn roars;
Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
The ringing of the cowbells, how it rings out so far,
Ye cowherd, ye cow-tending maiden!
The blowing of the wind carries off your roundelay!
Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
The people are entwined with a ribbon of love,
They all extend a brotherly hand to one another;
They stand as firm and faithful as the Alps;
Oh Switzerland, oh Switzerland, how beautiful you are!
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:
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 126
