"I Surrender" is a German patriotic song, written in 1820 by Hans Ferdinand Maßmann. It was one of the unofficial national anthems of West Germany from 1949 to 1952, when "Deutschlandlied" was officially reinstated. Its tune is now used in "Patriots of Micronesia", the Micronesian national anthem.
It was originally titled "Vow" (de. Gelübde).
Lyrics[]
German original[]
Ich hab mich ergeben
mit Herz und mit Hand,
𝄆 Dir Land voll Lieb' und Leben,
mein deutsches Vaterland! 𝄇
Mein Herz ist entglommen,
dir treu zugewandt,
𝄆 Du Land der Frei'n und Frommen,
du herrlich Hermannsland! 𝄇
Will halten und glauben
an Gott fromm und frei;
𝄆 Will Vaterland dir bleiben
auf ewig fest und treu. 𝄇
Ach Gott, tu' erheben
mein jung Herzensblut
𝄆 Zu frischem freud'gem Leben,
zu freiem frommem Mut! 𝄇
Laß Kraft mich erwerben
in Herz und in Hand,
𝄆 Zu leben und zu sterben
fürs heil'ge Vaterland! 𝄇
English translation[]
To thee I'm devoted,
with heart and hand,
𝄆 Thou landest full with love and life,
my German Fatherland! 𝄇
My hearth is glowing,
loyally turned towards thee,
𝄆 Thou landest of the free and faithful,
thou glorious Hermann's land! 𝄇
I shall hold and believe
in God faithfully and free;
𝄆 Will, Fatherland, remain
forever steadfast and loyal to thee. 𝄇
O God, do raise
my young heart's blood
𝄆 Towards fresh joyful life,
towards free and faithful courage! 𝄇
Let strength gain me
in heart and hand,
𝄆 To live and die
for the holy Fatherland! 𝄇