OFFICIAL GERMAN LYRICS

Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern, 
deutsche Erde, Vaterland!
über deinen weiten Gauen 
ruhe seine Segenshand!
Er behüte deine Fluren, 
schirme deiner Städte Bau 
und erhalte dir die Farben 
seines Himmels weiß und blau! 

Gott mit dir, dem Bayernvolke, 
daß wir, uns'rer Väter wert, 
fest in Eintracht und in Frieden 
bauen uns'res Glückes Herd! 
Daß mit Deutschlands Bruderstämmen 
einig uns ein jeder schau, 
und den alten Ruhm bewähre 
unser Banner weiß und blau!

TRADITIONAL GERMAN LYRICS

1. Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern,
Heimaterde, Vaterland!
Über deinen weiten Gauen
Walte seine Segenshand!
Er behüte deine Fluren,
Schirme deiner Städte Bau
Und erhalte dir die Farben
Deines Himmels: Weiß und Blau!
Er behüte deine Fluren,
Schirme deiner Städte Bau
Und erhalte dir die Farben
Deines Himmels: Weiß und Blau!

2. Gott mit uns, dem Bayernvolke,
Wenn wir, unsrer Väter wert,
Stets in Eintracht und in Frieden
Bauen uns'res Glückes Herd;
Daß vom Alpenland zum Maine
Jeder Stamm sich fest vertrau'
Und die Herzen freudig eine
Unser Banner, weiß und blau!
Daß vom Alpenland zum Maine
Jeder Stamm sich fest vertrau'
Und die Herzen freudig eine
Unser Banner, weiß und blau!

3. Gott mit uns und Gott mit allen,
Die der Menschen heilig' Recht
Treu beschützen und bewahren
Von Geschlechte zu Geschlecht.
Frohe Arbeit, frohes Feiern,
Reiche Ernten jedem Gau;
Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern,
Unterm Himmel weiß und blau!
Frohe Arbeit, frohes Feiern,
Reiche Ernten jedem Gau;
Gott mit dir, du Land der Bayern,
Unterm Himmel weiß und blau!

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION (OFFICIAL LYRICS)

God with you, oh land of Bavarians,
German soil, fatherland!
Above your wide areas
your blessed hand shall rest!
Shall he (the lord) protect your fields,
shield your cities' walls
and conserve to you the colours
of his skies, white and blue!

God with you, the people of Bavaria,
that we, worthy like our fathers,
live in unity and peace
creating the source of our happiness!
That, with Germany's brother-tribes
in consens we are seen by everyone
and proof the legendary glory
of our flag white and blue!


-------------------------

Bavaria
"Für Bayern" (For Bavaria)

Words by:Michael Öchsner
Music by:Konrad Max Kunz
Adopted:1860

The song "For Bavaria" is well known since the second half of the 19th century,
before becoming the official anthem of the Free State of Bavaria.

Poet of the original text was Michael Öchsner, a teacher from Munich, who wrote
the poem in 1845. Composer was Konrad Max Kunz, professor at the Munich
Conservatorium and leader of the royal choir at the royal opera, who composed
the melody in 1858. Together they wrote the song "For Bavaria" in 1860. This
song spread fast all over the country and was soon known by most people.

When the German anthem became official in 1952, the Bavarian Parliament decided
unanimously that the German National Anthem and the Bavarian Anthem should be
played by Radio Bavaria and taught at school together. So it was introduced by
the Government of Bavaria on March 3rd 1953. Since 1964 it was officially
termed as an "anthem" (Die Bayernhymne) and is under protection of law and may
not be abused or manipulated.

The anthem originally had lyrics praising the king of Bavaria in the third
verse, this was omitted in 1918 and in 1946 the Bavarian poet Josef Marai Lutz
wrote a new stanza (which is now unofficially used). To end the discussion on
varoius types of texts the Bavarian Prime Minister made a proclamation on July
18th 1980. This proclamation said, that the text introduced in 1953 with its 2
stanzas, which is very close to the original text, should be used oficially.
However, there are some differences between the "traditional" text and the
"official" text, the "traditional" text having been used when Bavaria was an
independent state, the "official" text now mentions Germany. (Both are included
in the link below)

Special thanks to:Ermano Geuer for providing me with this information, Klaus
Caussmacher for providing the English translation, and Pavel Zinovatny for the
MIDI file.

See also: Germany.
