The Watch at the Rhine
Die Wacht am Rhein
Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall,
Wie Schwertgeklirr und Wogenprall:
Zum Rhein, zum Rhein, zum deutschen Rhein!
Wer will des Stromes Hüter sein?
Lieb’ Vaterland, magst ruhig sein,
Fest steht und treu die Wacht am Rhein!
The Watch at the Rhine
The cry resounds like thunder’s peal,
Like crashing waves and clang of steel:
To the Rhine, the Rhine, our German Rhine,
Who will defend our stream divine?
Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,
Firm and true the Watch at the Rhine!
The ‘Wacht am Rhein’ is regarded as having been the battle-hymn of German nationalism. The text is a poem of 1840 by Max Schneckenburger, which was set to music by Carl Wilhelm in 1854.