Ons Hémécht

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"Ons Hémécht" is the national anthem of Luxembourg. The title in Luxembourgish translates as Our Homeland. Michel Lentz the words in 1859, and they were set to music by Jean Antoine Zinnen in 1864. The song was first performed in public in Ettelbruck, a town at the confluence of the Alzette and Sauer rivers (both of which are mentioned in the song), on 5 June 1864. Ons Hémécht was adopted as Luxembourg's national anthem in 1895.

Whilst Ons Hémécht is the national anthem, the royal anthem, or more accurately the Grand Ducal anthem, is De Wilhelmus. This is not the same as Het Wilhelmus, the national anthem of the Netherlands.

1 Luxembourgish lyrics
2 Official French version
3 Official German version
4 Unofficial English poetic translation
5 Trivia
6 External links

[edit] Luxembourgish lyrics

(1)
Wou d'Uelzécht durech d'Wisen zéit,
Duerch d'Fielsen d'Sauer brécht,
Wou d'Rief laanscht d'Musel dofteg bléit,
Den Himmel Wäin ons mécht:
Dat ass onst Land, fir dat mer géif
Hei nidden alles won,
Ons Heemechtsland dat mir so déif
An onsen Hierzer dron.
Ons Hemechtsland dat mir so déif
An onsen Hierzer dron.

(2)
An sengem donkle Bëscherkranz,
Vum Fridde stëll bewaacht,
Sou ouni Pronk an deire Glanz
Gemittlech léif et laacht;
Säi Vollek frou sech soë kann,
An 't si keng eidel Dreem:
Wéi wunnt et sech sou heemlech dran,
Wéi as 't sou gutt doheem!

(3)
Gesank, Gesank vu Bierg an Dall
Der Äärd, déi äis gedron;
D'Léift huet en treie Widderhall
A jidder Broscht gedon;
Fir, d'Hemecht ass keng Weis ze schéin;
All Wuert, dat vun er klénkt,
Gräift äis an d' Séil wéi Himmelstéin
An d'A wéi Feier blénkt

(4)
O Du do uewen, deen seng Hand
Duerch 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 ginn,
Looss viru blénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir so laang gesinn!
Looss virublénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir sou laang gesinn!

The official anthem consists of stanza (1) and (4) only.

[edit] Official French version

Translation by Jean-Claude Muller

(1)
Où l'Alzette arrose champs et prés
La Sûre baigne les rochers;
Où la Moselle, riante et belle
Nous fait cadeau du vin
C'est notre pays pour lequel
Nous risquons tout sur terre;
Notr'chère et adorable patrie
Dont notr'âme est remplie.
Notr'chère et adorable patrie
Dont notr'âme est remplie.

(2)
Ô Toi aux cieux qui nuit et jour
Diriges les nations du monde;
Écarte du pays de Luxembourg
L'oppression étrangère
Enfants nous avons reçu de Toi
L'esprit de la liberté;
Permets au soleil de liberté
De luire à tout jamais.
Permets au soleil de liberté
De luire à tout jamais.

[edit] Official German version

Translation by Joseph Groben

(1)
Wo die Alzette durch die Wiesen zieht,
Durch die Felsen die Sauer bricht,
Die Rebe längs der Mosel blüht,
Der Himmel Wein verspricht:
Dort ist das Land, für dessen Ehr
Kein Opfer uns zu schwer,
Die Heimat, die als teures Gut
In unseren Herzen ruht.
Die Heimat, die als teures Gut
In unseren Herzen ruht.

(2)
O Du dort droben, dessen Hand
Den Völkern gibt Geleit,
Behüt das Luxemburger Land
Vor fremdem Joch, vor Leid!
Als Kind empfingen wir von Dir
Den freiheitlichen Sinn,
Die Freiheitssonne, unsre Zier,
Lass leuchten fernerhin!
Die Freiheitssonne, unsre Zier,
Lass leuchten fernerhin!

[edit] Unofficial English poetic translation

Poetic translation by Nicholas Weydert

(1)
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.
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.

(2)
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.
Let Freedom's sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.

[edit] Trivia

An earlier national anthem was sung to the tune of To Anacreon in Heaven by the English composer John Stafford Smith. This tune was later added to Francis Scott Key's poem The Defence of Fort McHenry to become The Star-Spangled Banner, which was later proclaimed the United States' national anthem.