The Union Songs site has an item about this song which quotes from a book by Hanns Eisler "HANNS EISLER A REBEL IN MUSIC" published by International Publishers, New York and Seven Seas Books, Berlin. ©1978. I think the end of the Union Songs item is telling us that the first part of its quoted section from the Eisler book is a translation in English of publicity material which Eisler used in New York in 1935, probably during a solidarity tour. The Eisler version of the song's origin presented here has a feel of propagandising about it and does not name the creators of the lyrics but his information about the origins of the tune is interesting THE LINK IS HERE:http://unionsong.com/reviews/peatbog.html

I would very much like to establish exactly what part Eisler played in giving the song the tune to which it is now sung.The conclusion of the Union Songs item seems to be that the words were written by Esser and Langhoff, the melody of the verses was taken from a song from the Thirty Years War, the chorus melody was the work of Rudi Goguel, and in 1935 Hanns Eisler made an arrangement of the song and provided a piano accompaniment.

Does anyone recognise the song from the Thirty Years War that Eisler quotes but does not name ?

Children, listen to the wind howling
Howling against the windows.
Children, where Tilly wreaks havoc
Specters are dwelling.


The link to the radio programme given by Gargoyle above (http://www.prx.org/preview.do?id=1156 ) now takes you to a site which says the page no longer exists. Does anyone know if it can be found elsewhere?