Die Lorelei

Album: Memories of Germany (1827)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Die Lorelei" is arguably the most famous of German folk songs, certainly it is the best known in the English speaking world. The Lorelei (or Loreley) is a rock on the River Rhine, and herein it becomes a mermaid or siren, doing what these fascinating but deadly creatures do best, luring hapless sailors to their deaths.

    The song about this particular Rheine Maiden was actually written as a poem by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) and published in 1827; it was set to music by Friedrich Silcher (1789-1860). Heine was a Jew, and during the Nazi era an attempt was actually made to suppress the song, but the German people wouldn't stand for this, so the name of the author was quietly forgotten in that time, although Heine is today one of the most famous German poets.

    "Die Lorelei" has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, and remains popular as both a folk and a classical work. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England and Martin - Rostock, Germany

Comments: 3

  • Anonymous from United StatesNot crap. Beautiful story. Errors are due to using English keyboard.
  • Kamenomesto from France Not really crap: the missing letters are those which bear an umlaut so I suspect that the error is technical.
  • AnonymousCrap - letters missing from the German. Get a Grip!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.