In the north lands, long ago
There stood a land of freedom;
Mythical though it may be,
I sing of ancient Germany.
"Of the people," Deutschland means;
And so the tribes did spread;
Across the forests, snows, and plains;
Often invaded, never conquered.
In Deutschland, all were mostly free,
Mothers were mostly honored;
Within each tribe all freely traded,
Courage and valor mattered.
So Deutschland stayed, in first version:
Repelling each Roman incursion,
Despoiling their eagles of war,
While worshiping the German Thor.
Until Rome decayed, and
In swept, or crept the German tribes,
to sit upon the ancient thrones,
and pillage what remained.
And so did Deutschland finally lose
Its freedoms held so dear;
By feasting on the dying beast,
It enlivened and became her.
This song in German tongue
Does mourn that mad temptation;
Sing it loud with heart and lung,
And warn of repetition.
Tho' Germany the free is lost,
Its children kept in chains:
May myths of captors be forgot,
May freedom live again.