"Deutschlandlied," or "Song of Germany," is the national anthem of Germany. The music was composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797, while the lyrics were written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1841. The anthem is based on the melody of Haydn's "God Save Franz the Emperor." The song's lyrics express themes of unity and freedom, but only the third stanza is used as the official anthem today. This decision was made after World War II to distance the anthem from its associations with Nazi Germany. The anthem is performed at official events and represents the values of modern Germany.