The "Deutschlandlied"
The text reflected the aspiration for freedom and national unity, which had already been expressed since the Napoleonic Wars in many songs of the German unity and freedom movements. For the melody, Hoffmann chose the hymn "God protect the Emperor Francis" set to music by Joseph Haydn in 1797. On September 1, 1841, the "Song of the Germans" was published in print by Hoffmann & Campe. On October 5, 1841, it was sung for the first time in public by the Hamburger Liedertafel men's choir, founded in 1832.

Lyrics in English and German:
German:
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
für das Deutsche Vaterland.
Danach lasst uns alle streben
brüderlich mit Herz und Hand.
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
sind des Glückes Unterpfand.
Blüh im Glanze dieses Glückes,
blühe, Deutsches Vaterland ! (bis)

English:
Unity and Justice and Freedom
For the German Fatherland!
After these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and Justice and Freedom
Are the pledge of happiness.
Bloom in the splendour of this happiness,
Bloom, German Fatherland! (bis)

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