Die Gedanken Sind Frei

 I've always been fond of this old German song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCKzYmZG2ow

Fierce yet also playful, no wonder the Nazis hated it so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j54HIGk_AEI

I liked Pete Seeger's translation, which was the first version of it I heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwQXVcbkU0

I thought it would be better if it had a version which was entirely in English.

My mind can run free

My thoughts freely flower

I think as I please

My thoughts give me power

No scholar can map them

No jailer can trap them

Though chained I may be

My thoughts are still free


I think as I please

And this gives me pleasure

My conscience decrees

This right I must treasure

My soul will not cater

To duke or dictator

Though chained I may be

My heart is still free


And should tyrants take me

And throw me in prison

My thoughts will burst free

Like blossoms in season

Foundations will crumble

And thick walls will tumble

No chains will we see

For we all shall be free.

Maybe I'm wrong.

Or maybe I'm right, but this isn't the right English-language version. That's entirely possible.

What do you think?


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