National Anthem Comparison
Switzerland vs Liechtenstein
2
Shared themes
✓
Same mood
9
9 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Switzerland and Liechtenstein, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Switzerland's "Swiss Psalm" was written in 1841, while Liechtenstein's "High Above the Young Rhine" dates to 1850.
Both anthems share themes of god / faith and nature. Switzerland additionally explores freedom, while Liechtenstein also touches on love of homeland, monarchy and unity.
Both anthems carry a prayerful tone, creating a similar emotional register despite their geographic distance.
Switzerland changed its national anthem in 1981, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Switzerland
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature 🕊 Freedom
Liechtenstein
🌿 Nature ✝ God / Faith ❤ Love of homeland 👑 Monarchy 🤝 Unity
Shared themes:
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature
Metadata
| Switzerland | Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1841 | 1850 |
| Adopted | 1981 | 1963 |
| Lyricist | Leonhard Widmer | Attributed to Jakob Josef Jauch (1850s); 1963 revision |
| Composer | Alberich Zwyssig | Unknown (same melody as God Save the King) |
| Language | de | de |
| Region | Western Europe | Western Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Switzerland
Schweizerpsalm
Original
Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh'ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find'ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such'ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
Translation
When you come forth in the red of dawn,
I see you in a sea of radiance,
You, most exalted, glorious one!
When the Alpine snowfields glow red,
Pray, free Swiss, pray!
Your pious soul senses
Your pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you come in the evening glow,
I find you in the host of stars,
You, friend of mankind, loving one!
In heaven's bright expanses
I can dream in joy and bliss!
For the pious soul senses
For the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you drift in a veil of mist,
I seek you in the sea of clouds,
You, unfathomable, eternal one!
Out of the gray vapors
The sun steps forth, clear and mild,
And the pious soul senses
And the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
When you ride in the wild storm,
You yourself are our refuge and shield,
You, almighty ruler, savior!
In the night of thunder and dread
Let us trust in Him like children!
Yes, the pious soul senses,
Yes, the pious soul senses
God in the sublime Fatherland,
God, the Lord, in the sublime Fatherland.
Liechtenstein
Oben am jungen Rhein
Original
Oben am jungen Rhein
Lehnet sich Liechtenstein
An Alpenhöh'n.
Dies liebe Heimatland,
Das teure Vaterland,
Hat Gottes weise Hand
Für uns erseh'n.
Hoch lebe Liechtenstein,
Blühend am jungen Rhein,
Glücklich und treu.
Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land,
Hoch unser Vaterland,
Durch Bruderliebe Band
Vereint und frei.
Translation
Up above the young Rhine
Liechtenstein rests
On Alpine heights.
This dear homeland,
The precious fatherland,
God's wise hand
Has chosen for us.
Long live Liechtenstein,
Blossoming on the young Rhine,
Happy and true.
Long live the Prince of the land,
Long live our fatherland,
Through the bond of brotherly love
United and free.
Interesting facts
Switzerland
- 1. The Swiss Society for the Common Good (SGG) ran a competition for new lyrics to the same melody: 208 entries arrived by June 2014, and a winning text by Werner Widmer was announced in September 2015. It has not replaced the official Swiss Psalm.
- 2. Composer Alberich Zwyssig was a Cistercian monk at Wettingen Abbey. For Widmer's poem he adapted a church piece he had composed in 1835 on the psalm text 'Diligam te Domine' (I will love thee, O Lord).
- 3. In a 2000 survey of 555 people in German- and French-speaking Switzerland, only 3 percent could sing the whole anthem, though one in three knew the first stanza by heart.
- 4. Between 1894 and 1953 there were repeated proposals to make the Swiss Psalm the national anthem. The Federal Council turned them down, holding that an anthem should be chosen by the people, not imposed by decree.
Liechtenstein
- 1. Uses the same melody as the British 'God Save the King', making it one of several anthems worldwide that share this tune.
- 2. The 1963 revision by the Landtag removed the reference to the 'German Rhine' in favour of the 'young Rhine' and cut the song down to two stanzas, producing the text that is official today.
- 3. The authorship is only attributed: the priest Jakob Josef Jauch is traditionally named as the author of the 1850s text, but no document settles the question.
Listen
Switzerland
Liechtenstein
