Lukas wrote:No
idea apart from being a Germanophile (probably not a word, certainly not in English, but who cares), has a nice tune and lyrics. Striving for togetherness, fairness and freedom etc.
#12 wrote:Well, I like the third one better... The first one makes no sense anyways...
We have a national anthems thread...Jorge wrote:#12 wrote:Well, I like the third one better... The first one makes no sense anyways...
The third stanza is certainly more palatable for the general public but it does not have the historical meaning of the first.
The references in the first stanza to Maas, Memel, Etsch and Bel, all territories beyond the current German borders, may not make sense in the context of the well defined geography that we know today but it does not necessarily mean it is the case in the historical context when it was written. The dream of a German nation above all differences and expanding as far as people would accept it certainly inspired August Hoffmann to write the lyrics, or as some claim it shaped it since the words existed in various forms of popular songs. At the end, it was common at the time when European nations were forming to set undefined references to geographical features as the imaginary boundaries of the unified nations that many wanted.
Either the first stanza, the third or all 3 in general express the "togetherness, fairness and freedom" that Lukas refers to. Most national anthems are belligerent in nature. Obviously when it comes to making sense today I am sure that "God Save the Queen" is very debatable, a symbol of colonialism for some, heritage for others.
We are off topic but there was not much to talk about the Germany vs Norway game, not even the Norwegian National Anthem can be dsicussed since "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (what they sing before the games) is one of the 3 national anthems that they have.
ramsej84 wrote:We have a national anthems thread...
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