Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Good day! This is a marimba instrumental version of "Die Wacht am Rhein." I hope you enjoy it.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/4vOLhhxFrWUyxjBCibfCC9?si=2MvYX4ZpQHSdGGCfl5SaKw
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*This video is not intended to carry any political meaning.*

"Die Wacht am Rhein" is a German patriotic song popular during the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars. Its lyrics were written as a poem by Max Schneckenburger during the Rhine Crisis of 1840, which stoked fears of French expansionism. The musical setting to the poem was composed by Karl Wilhelm in 1854. Though the song calls for the defense of the Rhine, the fighting in the aforementioned wars that followed took place instead in France, to the west of the Rhine.

"Die Wacht Am Rhein" has been adapted for use as an alma mater for several institutions, most notably "Bright College Years," the alma mater of Yale University since 1881. During the Great War, the use of a German tune was questioned, and the Yale College Council proposed a ban on the song. Most alumni clubs voted in favor of keeping it, and it has since remained as the university's alma mater.

The image shown in the video is a painting of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.

Lyrics of both the original song and the Yale University alma mater are provided below.

Lyrics
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,
lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein,
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein!
Fest steht und treu die Wacht, die Wacht am Rhein!

Durch Hunderttausend zuckt es schnell,
und aller Augen blitzen hell;
der Deutsche, bieder, fromm und stark,
beschützt die heil'ge Landesmark.

Refrain

Er blickt hinauf in Himmelsau'n,
wo Heldenväter niederschau'n,
und schwört mit stolzer Kampfeslust:
Du Rhein bleibst deutsch wie meine Brust!

Refrain

Solang ein Tropfen Blut noch glüht,
noch eine Faust den Degen zieht,
und noch ein Arm die Büchse spannt,
betritt kein Feind hier deinen Strand!

Refrain

Und ob mein Herz im Tode bricht,
wirst du doch drum ein Welscher nicht.
Reich, wie an Wasser deine Flut,
ist Deutschland ja an Heldenblut!

Refrain

Der Schwur erschallt, die Woge rinnt
die Fahnen flattern hoch im Wind:
Am Rhein, am Rhein, am deutschen Rhein
wir alle wollen Hüter sein.

Refrain


Yale Alma Mater
Bright College years, with pleasure rife,
The shortest, gladdest years of life;
How swiftly are ye gliding by!
Oh, why doth time so quickly fly?

The seasons come, the seasons go,
The earth is green or white with snow,
But time and change shall naught avail
To break the friendships formed at Yale.

In after years, should troubles rise
To cloud the blue of sunny skies,
How bright will seem, through mem’ry’s haze
Those happy, golden, bygone days!

Oh, let us strive that ever we
May let these words our watch-cry be,
Where’er upon life’s sea we sail:
“For God, for Country and for Yale!”


English Lyrics:
The cry resounds like thunder's peal,
Like crashing waves and clang of steel:
The Rhine, the Rhine, our German Rhine,
Who will defend our stream, divine?

Chorus:
Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,
Dear fatherland, no fear be thine,
Firm stands the Watch along, along the Rhine!
Firm stands the Watch along, along the Rhine!

They stand, a hundred thousand strong,
Quick to avenge their country's wrong,
With filial love their bosoms swell
They shall guard the sacred landmark well.

Chorus

He casts his eyes to heaven's blue,
From where past heroes hold the view,
And swears pugnaciously the oath,
You Rhine and I, stay German, both.

Chorus

While still remains one breath of life,
While still one fist can draw a knife,
One gun still fired with one hand,
No foe will stand on this Rhine sand.

Chorus

If my heart ne'er survives this stand,
You'll never fall in foreign hand,
Much, as your waters with no end,
Have we our heroes' blood to spend.

Chorus

The oath resounds, on rolls the wave,
The banners fly high, proud, and brave,
The Rhine, the Rhine, the German Rhine
We all shall stand to hold the line!


Italian Lyrics:
Sopra l’Alpe d’Oulx, ai venti,
sta l’Alpino in sentinella:
come scroscio di torrenti,
come rombo di procella,
giunge un grido “ Al Reno, al Reno! „
Fratel mio, tu veglia al Reno;
io sull’Alpe itala sto.


Russian Lyrics:
Призыв — как громовой раскат,
Как звон мечей и волн набат:
«На Рейн, на Рейн, кто станет в строй
Немецкий Рейн закрыть собой?»

Refrain:
Спокоен будь, край отчий наш:
Спокоен будь, край отчий наш:
Твёрд и надёжен страж, на Рейне страж!
Твёрд и надёжен страж, на Рейне страж!

Звучит присяга, плещет вал,
Знамёна ветер полоскал:
На Рейн, на Рейн, готов любой
Немецкий Рейн закрыть собой!

Refrain


This music was made using Logic Pro.