The original lyrics, beginning Oberst am jungen Rhein, were written in the 1850s. The song may be grouped with the German "Rhine songs", i.e. songs that celebrate the River Rhine as part of the German national patrimony, opposing the French territorial claims on the left river bank.
The text is attributed to Jakob Josef Jauch (1802–1859).[1] Born in Saratov, Russia to Swiss Catholic family from Uri, Jauch studied theology in Lucerne and Chur during 1828–1832, and was consecrated as priest in 1833. He served as priest in London during 1837/8–1850. During 1852–1856, he lived in Balzers, Liechtenstein, and befriended Princess Franziska, with whom he planned a model educational institution in Balzers. Due to his progressive stance, Jauch came into conflict with the church hierarchy, and the bishop of Chur ordered him to leave Liechtenstein in 1856. If the attribution of the lyrics to Jauch is correct, the composition would likely date to Jauch's time in Balzers (1852–1856).
The lyrics were not published during Jauch's lifetime. They appeared in print, as the national anthem of Liechtenstein (Die Liechtenstein'sche National-Hymne) only after a period of oral transmission, in 1875, so that the tradition of Jauch's authorship, or the original form of his lyrics, cannot be verified.[2] The song served as Liechtenstein's unofficial, de facto national anthem from the 1870s until its official adoption in 1920.
In 1963, the text was shortened, and reference to the "German Rhine", which had been introduced in the 1920 version, was removed.[3]Oben am jungen Rhein is the only remaining national anthem sharing the same melody with the British "God Save the King" (since the replacement of the Swiss Rufst du, mein Vaterland in 1961).[4][5]
I
Oben am jungen Rhein[b]
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
𝄆 Dies liebe Heimatland,
Das teure Vaterland[c]
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n. 𝄇
II
Wo einst St. Lucien
Frieden nach Rhätien
Hineingebracht
𝄆 Dort an dem Grenzestein
Und längs des jungen Rhein
Steht furchtlos Liechtenstein
Auf Deutschlands Wacht. 𝄇
III
Lieblich zur Sommerzeit
Auf hoher Alpenweid
Schwebt Himmelsruh:
𝄆 Wo frei die Gemse springt,
Kühn sich der Adler schwingt,
Der Senn das Ave singt
Der Heimat zu. 𝄇
IV
Von grünen Felsenhöh'n
Freundlich es ist zu seh'n
Mit einem Blick:
𝄆 Wie des Rhein's Silberband
Säumet das schöne Land,
Ein kleines Vaterland
Von stillem Glück. 𝄇
V
Treu und fest, wenn schon klein
Im deutschen Reichsverein
Ruht Liechtenstein.
𝄆 Lichtvoll auf ew'gem Grund
Einig und kerngesund
In Sturm und Nacht dem Bund
Leuchtstern zu sein. 𝄇
VI
Theilt nicht des Fürsten Herz
Väterlich Freud' und Schmerz
Mit Kindern hier?
𝄆 Nicht ihn erhält das Land —
So reichet ihm die Hand,
In unserm Vaterland
Vater und Zier! 𝄇
VII
Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am jungen Rhein,[d]
Glücklich und treu.[e]
𝄆 Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei. 𝄇
I
High on the young Rhine
Lies Liechtenstein, resting
On Alpine heights.
𝄆 This beloved homeland
The dear fatherland
God's wise hand has
Chosen for us. 𝄇
II
Where once St. Lucius
Peace to Raetia
Brought,
𝄆 There by the border stone
And along the young Rhine
Liechtenstein stands fearless
On guard for Germany. 𝄇
III
Lovely in the summer
On the high Alps' meadows
Floats heavenly quietude.
𝄆 Where the chamois leaps freely,
The eagle soars boldly,
The herdsman sings the Ave
For the native land. 𝄇
IV
From green rocky heights
It is lovely to look at
With one gaze:
𝄆 How the Rhine's silver band
Hems the beautiful land
A small fatherland
Of silent bliss. 𝄇
V
Loyal and firm, even if small
In the German Empire association
Rests Liechtenstein.
𝄆 Full of light on eternal ground
United and healthy
In storm and night the union
to be a shining star. 𝄇
VI
Does the prince's heart not share
Fatherly joy and pain
With children here?
𝄆 The country is not receiving him —
So give him your hand
In our fatherland
father and ornament! 𝄇
VII
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,—
Fortunate and faithful!
𝄆 Long live the Prince of the Land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through bonds of brotherly love
United and free! 𝄇
^ abcdeThe full seven verses were printed in "Die Lichtenstein's he Nationalhymne", Süddeutsche Presse, 21 March 1875 p. 2. Reprinted from the Süddeutsche Presse report, but shortened to five verses: Das Echo, 16 May 1875, p. 78, Neue Freie Presse Wien, 23 March 1875, p. 2; mentioned as "composed in the 1850s by a Catholic pastor" (in den Fünfziger-Jahren von einem katholischen Pfarrer gedichtet).
^"Liechtenstein". nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
