"Das Lied der Deutschen" (The song of the Germans)
Lyrics from Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1841)
Music by Joseph Haydn
{Only the 3rd verse is the national anthem, the other two (especially the 1st) may not be sung any more!}
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
bruederlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
sind des Glueckes Unterpfand;
*Blueh' im Glanze diesen Glueckes,
bluehe deutsches Vaterland.*
* = repeated or in rough English:
Unity and justice and freedom
for the German fatherland!
This let us all pursue,
fraternally with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
are the pledge of happiness.
*Flourish in this blessing's glory,
flourish, German fatherland*
Anecdote: Haydn's music was originally intended as Austrian national anthem (in the 19th century) with the lyrics "Gott erhalte Franz, den Kaiser..." (God save Franz, the emperor...), therefore the original composition Quartett for violines in C-Dur (is it C-major in English??), opus 76, No 3 is called the "Kaiserquartett".
Edit:
I will not quote the 1st verse, which is forbidden since WW 2, for obvious reasons - and quite rightfully so.
But the second verse is hardly known, and gives an insight as to how Germans saw Germans in the 19th century <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang
sollen in der Welt behalten
ihren schoenen alten Klang,
uns zu edler Tat begeistern
unser ganzes Leben lang.
*Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang.*
German women, German faithfulness,
German wine and German songs
should keep all over the world
their beautiful old "sound" (in the sense of "reputation")
and inspire us to noble deeds
for all our life long.
*German women, German faithfulnesss,
German wine and German songs.*
Note that it says "wine", not "beer"!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
