Das Westerwaldlied

About the Song

"Das Westerwaldlied" (The Westerwald Song) is a popular German folk and military marching song, written by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1932. It celebrates the Westerwald region in western Germany and is widely used by the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) as a marching song to this day.

Video

Lyrics

Heute wollen wir marschier'n,

(Today we want to march,)

Einen neuen Marsch probier'n,

(Try out a new march,)

In den schönen Westerwald,

(Into the beautiful Westerwald,)

Ja, da pfeift der Wind so kalt.

(Yes, there the wind blows so cold.)

Oh, du schöner Westerwald,

(Oh, you beautiful Westerwald,)

Über deine Höhen pfeift der Wind so kalt,

(Over your heights the wind blows so cold,)

Jedoch der kleinste Sonnenschein

(But the smallest ray of sunshine)

Dringt tief ins Herz hinein.

(Penetrates deep into the heart.)

Und die Gretel und der Hans

(And Gretel and Hans)

Geh'n des Sonntags gern zum Tanz,

(Like to go dancing on Sundays,)

Weil das Tanzen Freude macht

(Because dancing brings joy)

Und das Herz im Leibe lacht.

(And makes the heart laugh in the body.)