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Auf die Berge möcht' ich hin, Mit den frohen Lerchen ziehn! Muthig über Fels und Kluft, In die frische, freie [Luft!]1 Über Wolken möcht' ich stehn! Über Länder möcht' ich sehn! Ungetrübtes Lebensglück Lächelt dort dem freien [Blick!]2 Droben nur erstarkt der Geistm Der sich von den Fesseln reißt! Unten in des Thales Haft Schwindet ihm die freie Kraft! Juble laut mein frohes Herz! Schwing' Dich selig himmelwärts! Senk' Dein Weh' in tiefsten See! Bergeshöh' ist [himmelsnäh'!]3
F. Messer sets stanzas 1, 2, 4
Confirmed with Der schwäbische Postbote. Feuilleton zur Neuen Augsburger Zeitung, Vierzehnter Jahrgang (20. Juni 1880), Nr. 81, page 475.
1 Messer: "Luft! / Auf die Berge möcht' ich hin!"2 Messer: "Blick! / Auf die Berge möcht' ich hin!"
3 Messer: "himmelsnäh'! / Auf die Berge möcht' ich hin!"
Text Authorship:
- by Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Enslin (1819 - 1875), "Auf die Berge!" [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 Carl Attenhofer (1837 - 1914), "Auf die Berge", published 1899 [ sa chorus and piano ], from Für Schule und Haus. Mädchenlieder. Zweite Folge., no. 4, Leipzig: Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Joseph Messer (1811 - 1860), "Auf die Berge", published 1899, stanzas 1,2,4 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto ], in: Kinderlieder für Schule und Haus (ed. by J.J. Schäublin) [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-10-17
Line count: 16
Word count: 80
Up onto the mountains I'd like to go, To travel with the joyful larks! Courageously over rock and crag, Into the fresh, free [air!]1 I'd like to stand above the clouds! I would like to gaze over the lands! Unclouded joy of life Smiles there for the free [gaze!]1 Only up there, one's spirit grows strong, [The spirit] that tears off its chains! Down in the confinement of the valley Its free strength wanes! Rejoice loudly, my joyful heart! Soar blissfully heavenward! Sink your woe into the deepest lake! Mountain heights mean [nearness to heaven!]3
About the headline (FAQ)
View text without footnotesTranslations of titles:
"Auf die Berge" = "Up onto the mountains"
"Auf die Berge!" = "Up onto the mountains!"
2 Messer: "gaze! / Up onto the mountains I'd like to go!"
3 Messer: "nearness to heaven! / Up onto the mountains I'd like to go!"
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 Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand Enslin (1819 - 1875), "Auf die Berge!"
This text was added to the website: 2026-10-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 98