Rhine Song of the German Soldiers After Victory

It is the Rhine! our mountain vineyards laving,
I see the bright flood shine! (bis.)
Sing on the march with every banner waving--
Sing, brothers! ’tis the Rhine! (bis.)

CHORUS.

The Rhine! the Rhine! our own imperial river!
Be glory on thy track!
We left thy shores, to die or to deliver--
We bear thee freedom back!

Hail! hail! my childhood knew thy rush of water,
Even as my mother’s song;
That sound went past me on the field of slaughter,
And heart and arm grew strong!

CHORUS.

Roll proudly on!--brave blood is with thee sweeping,
Pour’d out by sons of thine,
Where sword and spirit forth in joy were leaping,
Like thee, victorious Rhine!

Home! Home! Thy glad wave hath a tone of greeting,
Thy path is by my home,
Even now my children count the hours till meeting:
O ransom’d ones! I come.

CHORUS.

Go tell the seas, that chain shall bind thee never!
Sound on by hearth and shrine!
Sing through the hills that thou art free for ever--
Lift up thy voice, O Rhine!