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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
Wachet auf! ruft euch die Stimme
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: ENG
Wachet auf! ruft euch die Stimme des Wächters von der hohen Zinne, wach auf, du weites deutsches Land! Die ihr an der Donau hauset, und wo der Rhein durch Felsen brauset und wo sich türmt der Düne Sand! Habt Wacht am Heimatsherd, in treuer Hand das Schwert, jede Stunde! Zu scharfem Streit macht euch bereit! Der Tag des Kampfes ist nicht weit. Hört ihr's dumpf im Osten klingen? Er möcht' euch gar zu gern verschlingen, der Geier, der nach Beute kreist. Hört im Westen ihr die Schlange? Sie möchte mit Sirenensange vergiften euch den frommen Geist. Schon naht des Geiers Flug. schon birgt die Schlange klug sich zum Sprunge; drum haltet Wacht um Mitternacht und wetzt die Schwerter für die Schlacht! [Reiniget euch in Gebeten, auf dass ihr vor den Herrn könnt treten, wenn er um euer Werk euch frägt; keusch im Lieben, fest im Glauben, lasst euch den treuen Mut nicht rauben, seid einig, da die Stunde schlägt!]1 Das Kreuz sei eure Zier, eu'r Helmbusch und Panier in den Schlachten. Wer in dem Feld zu Gott sich hält, der hat allein sich wohl gestellt. Sieh herab vom Himmel droben, Herr, den der Engel Zungen loben, sei gnädig diesem deutschen Land! Donnernd aus der Feuerwolke sprich zu den Fürsten, sprich zum Volke, [und lehr' uns stark sein Hand in Hand!]2 Sei du uns Fels und Burg, du führst uns wohl hindurch. Halleluja! Denn dein ist heut und alle Zeit das Reich, die Kraft, die Herrlichkeit.3
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Note: see also Phillip Nicolai's "Wachet auf," ruft uns die Stimme.
1 Raff:
Wachet auf im weiten deutschen Land! Keusch im Lieben, fest im Glauben, lasst euch den treuen Muth nicht rauben. Seid einig, da die Stunde schlägt! Reiniget euch in Gebeten, auf dass ihr vor den Herrn könnt treten, wenn er um euer Werk euch frägt.2 Raff: "vereine sie mit starker Hand."
3 Raff adds at the end: "Allelujah!"
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Türmerlied", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen [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 Gustav Dullo (1832 - 1907), "Thürmerlied" [ four-part men's chorus and orchestra or piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Hille (1822 - 1891), "Thürmerlied", op. 14 no. 3 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Joseph) Joachim Raff (1822 - 1882), "Wachet auf!", op. 80 (1858), published 1862 [ solo male voices, men's chorus, and orchestra ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gustav Rebling (1821 - 1902), "Thürmerlied", op. 12 (Gesänge für Männerchöre), Heft 1 no. 1, published 1850 [ men's chorus (double chorus) ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Heinrich Riehl (1823 - 1897), "Thürmerlied" [ voice and piano ], from 35 neue Lieder für das Haus, no. 33 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Thürmerlied", op. 4, published 1864 [ male soli and men's chorus with brass ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Elise Schmezer (1810 - 1856), "Thürmerlied", op. 4 (Lieder, Romanzen und Balladen für Tenor, Erstes Heft der Gesänge) no. 3, published 1850 [ tenor and piano ], Magdeburg: Heinrichshofen [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Karl Gottfried) Wilhelm Taubert (1811 - 1891), "Thürmerlied", op. 135 (Zwei Gesänge für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 1, published 1862 [ SATB chorus with orchestra ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Bertram Kottmann , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-04-21
Line count: 48
Word count: 245
Awaken! Calls the voice of the watchman
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Awaken! Calls the voice of the watchman To you from the high ramparts. Awaken, you broad German land! You that dwell along the Danube, And where the Rhine roars through stones And where the sands pile into dunes! Keep watch by the home fire, A sword in your loyal hand, Every hour! For intense strife Make yourselves ready! The day of battle is not distant. Do you hear that faint sound in the East? All too gladly it would like to consume you, The vulture, that is circling its prey. Do you hear the serpent in the West? With the siren’s song, it would like to Corrupt your pious spirit. Already the vulture flies nearer. Already the wily serpent Gathers to strike; So, keep watch At the midnight hour And whet your swords for the attack! Purify yourselves through prayer, So that when you might come before the Lord If He would ask about your work; Chaste in love, resolute in faith, Do not allow your loyal courage to be stolen, Be united when the hour tolls! Let the cross be your emblem, Your plume and your banner In the onslaught. He who, in the field, Would hold fast to God, He alone will fare well. Look down from heaven, Lord, whom the tongues of angels praise, Be merciful to this German land! Thundering out of the cloud of fire Speak to the rulers, speak to the people, [And teach us to firmly hold His hand!] Be our rock and our fortress, You will truly guide us through. Hallelujah! Because to you belongs Today and for all time, The kingdom, the power and the glory.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Thürmerlied" = "Watchman's song"
"Türmerlied" = "Watchman's song"
"Wachet auf!" = "Awaken!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Türmerlied", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen
This text was added to the website: 2023-07-18
Line count: 48
Word count: 275