"Ons Heemecht" (Our Motherland)
Words by: Michel Lentz
Music by: Jean-Antoine Zinnen
Adopted: 1864
NOTE: The current Luxembourgish anthem, "Ons Heemecht," was written in 1859 and set to music in 1864. That same year also saw the first performance of the song and its adoption as the national anthem. (The anthem was recently officially named "Ons Heemecht" over the old spelling "Ons Hémécht.") The lyrics are verses 1 and 4 of the original work, available online at Luxembourg Anthem
LUXEMBOURGISH LYRICS
Wou d’Uelzecht durech d’Wisen zéit,
Duerch d’Fielsen d’Sauer brëcht.
Wou d’Rief laanscht d’Musel dofteg bléit,
Den Himmel Wäin ons mëcht.
Dat as onst Land, fir dat mir géif,
Heinidden alles won.
Ons Heemechtsland, dat mir sou déif
An onsen Hierzer dron..
O Du do uewen, deem séng Hand
Duurch d’Welt d’Natioune leet.
Behitt Du d’Lëtzebuerger Land
Vru friemem Joch a Leed !
Du hues ons all als Kanner schon
de fräie Geescht jo gin.
Looss viru blénken d’Fräiheetssonn
déi mir sou laang gesin.
ENGLISH LYRICS
Where the Alzette slowly flows,
The Sura plays wild pranks,
Where fragrant vineyards amply grow
On the Mosella’s banks;
There lies the land for which we would
Dare everything down here,
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.
O Thou above whose powerful hand
Makes States or lays them low,
Protect this Luxembourger land
From foreign yoke and woe.
Your spirit of liberty bestow
On us now as of yore.
Let Freedom’s sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.