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Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes.
Genug der Schmähung habt Ihr uns geboten,
Der Lüge und des Hohnes nur zu viel!
Nicht schürten wir den Haß den blutigrothen,
Die Menschlichkeit war unsres Kampfes Ziel!
Schaut, ob Ihr unser Recht
Und unsre Wehr zerbrecht --
Heran Demokratie!
[Dran]1 auf die rothe Monarchie!
Wer trägt des Blutes Zeichen am Gewande?
Wem sprüht der Bürgerhaß aus giftgem Blick?
Wer küßt den Staub von eines Thrones Rande
Und zittert vor dem Namen Republik?
Schaut, ob Ihr unser Recht
Und unsre Wehr zerbrecht --
Heran Demokratie!
[Dran]1 auf die rothe Monarchie!
Und Ihr, die mit der Fülle Eures Goldes,
Mit süßem Wein und süßrer Schmeichelei
Jetzt kirrt die Knechte des Tyrannen-Soldes,
Es gilt auch Euch der Freiheit Racheschrei!
Schaut, ob Ihr unser Recht
Und unsre Wehr zerbrecht --
Heran Demokratie!
[Dran]1 auf die rothe Monarchie!
Droht nur dem freien Mann mit Kerkermauern,
Wenn tückisch Ihr die Waffen erst geraubt,
Erfüllt der Mütter Herz mit Todesschauern,
Begehrt als Geißel unsrer Kinder Haupt --
Schaut, ob Ihr unser Recht
Und unsre Wehr zerbrecht --
Heran Demokratie!
[Dran]1 auf die rothe Monarchie!
O Freiheit, die der Arme sich erkoren,
Ob all sein Gut in Schutt und Trümmer sank,
[Wir grüßen dich]2, wenn nur zu unsern Ohren
Im Tod der Name »Republik« erklang!
Schaut, ob Ihr unser Recht
Und unsre Wehr zerbrecht --
Heran Demokratie!
[Dran]1 auf die rothe Monarchie!
J. Kinkel sets stanzas 1-2, 5
Confirmed with Bonner Zeitung, Nro. 192 (Mittwoch, den 6. Dezember 1848), page [763].
1 Kinkel (in her setting): "Ran"2 Kinkel (in her setting): "Dich grüßen wir"
Text Authorship:
- by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Demokratenlied" [author's text checked 2 times 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 Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Demokratenlied", 1848, stanzas 1-2,5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song of the Democrats", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-10-04
Line count: 42
Word count: 238
They come to your arms to cut
your sons’, your companions’ throats
You have offered us enough of vilification,
Of lies and ridicule only too much!
We did not fan the flames of hate, the blood-red [flames],
The goal of our battle was brotherliness!
See if you can shatter our right
And our defense --
Draw near democracy!
Storm the red monarchy!
Who has the sign of blood upon his garments?
From out of whose venomous gaze spews hatred of the populace?
Who kisses the dust from the edge of a throne,
And trembles before the name "republic"?
See if you can shatter our right
And our defense --
Draw near democracy!
Storm the red monarchy!
And you, who with the abundance of your gold,
With sweet wine and sweeter flattery
Now tame the servants in the tyrant’s pay,
The revengeful scream of freedom pertains to you as well!
See if you can shatter our right
And our defense --
Draw near democracy!
Storm the red monarchy!
Only threaten the free man with prison walls,
When you have first sneakily taken away his weapons,
Fill the hearts of mothers with the horrors of death,
Desire the heads of our children as hostages --
See if you can shatter our right
And our defense --
Draw near democracy!
Storm the red monarchy!
Oh freedom that the poor man has chosen for himself,
Though all his possessions sank into rubble and ruin.
We greet you, if only in death our ears
Hear the name "republic" ringing out.
See if you can shatter our right
And our defense --
Draw near democracy!
Storm the red monarchy!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Demokratenlied"
This text was added to the website: 2013-08-15
Line count: 42
Word count: 268