Die Wacht am Rhein
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall,
wie Schwertgeklirr und Wogenprall:
Zum Rhein, zum Rhein, zum deutschen Rhein!
Wer will des Stromes Hüter sein?
Refrain:
Lieb' Vaterland, magst ruhig sein:
Fest steht und treu die Wacht am Rhein!
Durch Hunderttausend zuckt es schnell,
und Aller Augen blitzen hell;
der deutsche Mann, frei, fromm und stark,
beschirmt die heil'ge Landesmark.
(Refrain)
Aufblickt er in des Himmels Blau'n,
wo Heldengeister niederschau'n,
und schwört mit stolzer Kampfeslust:
Du Rhein bleibst deutsch, wie meine Brust.
(Refrain)
So lang' ein Tropfen Blut noch glüht,
noch eine Faust den Degen zieht,
und noch ein Arm die Büchse spannt,
betritt kein Feind den heil'gen Strand.
(Refrain)
Der Schwur erschallt, die Woge rinnt,
die Fahnen flattern hoch im Wind;
zum Rhein, zum Rhein, zum deutschen Rhein
wir Alle wollen Hüter sein.
(Refrain)
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P. Rosewall) , title 1: "The watch on the Rhine", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-09
Line count: 27
Word count: 133
The watch on the Rhine
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
A call roars out like a peal of thunder,
Like the clash of sword and the crash of waves:
To the Rhine, the Rhine, to the German Rhine!
Who will the river's guardian be?
Refrain:
Dear Fatherland, be at rest:
Firm and loyal stands the watch on the Rhine!
Past hundreds of thousands it rushes fitfully,
And every eye flashes brightly:
The German man - free, devout and strong
Protects the sacred landmark.
(Refrain)
He looks upward into the blue of heaven,
Where the spirits of heroes look downward,
And swears with noble forcefulness:
You, Rhine, will remain German, like my breast.
(Refrain)
So long as a drop of blood is still warm,
A fist can wield a sword,
And an arm can raise a weapon,
No enemy will tread on its sacred shore.
(Refrain)
The pledge rings out, the waves yet run,
The banner flutters high in the wind;
To the Rhine, the Rhine, the German Rhine!
We all will be its guardian.
(Refrain)
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Max Schneckenburger (1819 - 1849), "Die Wacht am Rhein", written 1840
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-02
Line count: 27
Word count: 165