Origins: Songs about book banning ?

Subject: Origins: Songs about book banning ??????
From: MickyMan
Date: 04 Feb 23 - 03:03 PM

Does anybody know some songs about book banning that are in the folk style.   Also, if you happen to know the artists and recording song names, that would be great!   My friend is looking for songs on this subject for her folk radio show.
Many thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ??????
From: Jack Campin
Date: 04 Feb 23 - 05:00 PM

If there are any they'll be in Lithuanian.

Book Smugglers

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 05 Feb 23 - 07:51 AM

Banned Books Week
Tune is 'MacNamara's Band' but very much in the 'folk' tradition, with verses still being added.

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Feb 23 - 06:13 PM

There's a German one from the 1848 revolution called "Sah ein Fürst ein Büchlein steh'n" ("A Prince Came Across A Little Book"), along the lines of "If you ban me people will read me the more". I could dig out the lyrics if you're interested. - Susanne (with her cookie back, thanks to Joe Offer)

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 05 Feb 23 - 06:24 PM

Here's a recording by the "Leipzig Folk Session Band" (1998):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=villO0kNQE8

Subject: ADD: Sah ein Fuerst ein Buechlein stehn
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Feb 23 - 06:53 PM

What a great song, Susanne!

Sah ein Fürst ein Büchlein stehn

Sah ein Fürst ein Büchlein stehn in des Ladens Ecken, nahm es rasch, es durchzusehn las es auch vorm Schlafengehn doch mit tausend Schrecken. Büchlein, Büchlein, Büchlein keck, aus des Ladens Ecken. König sprach, ich unterdrück’s, Büchlein aus dem Laden, Büchlein lachte: O des Glücks! Dann liest man mich hinterrücks, und das bringt nie Schaden. Büchlein, Büchlein, Büchlein keck, Büchlein aus dem Laden. Und der gute Fürst verbot’s, Büchlein aus dem Lande, Büchlein aber litt nicht Not, ging recht ab wie warmes Brot, ging von Hand zu Hande. Büchlein, Büchlein, Büchlein keck, Büchlein bleibt im Lande.

A prince saw a little book standing there in the corners of the store took it quickly to look through it read it before bed too but with a thousand terrors. Book, book, book bold, from the corners of the store. King spoke, I suppress it, booklet from the store, The little book laughed: O happiness! Then they read me from behind (in secret) and that never hurts. Book, book, book bold, booklet from the store. And the good prince forbade it little book from the country, but little book suffered no need, came off like warm bread went from hand to hand. Book, book, book bold, Book stays in the country.    (Google translation)

Text: Leberecht Dreves (1843)
Musik: Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehn

Also see: https://www.liederlexikon.de/lieder/sah_ein_fuerst_ein_buechlein_stehn

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 09 Feb 23 - 10:27 PM

Great, Joe! Thanks for saving me the effort! Just one thing - verse 2 "hinterrücks": Rather than "from behind" it should be something like "in secret".

Subject: Song about song banning
From: GUEST,Puff the Unfluffable
Date: 10 Feb 23 - 04:05 PM

Related: a parody of "Die Gedanken Sind Frei", in response to songs
( ie "Don't Take Your Guns to School") being criticized as offensive.


Die Lieder Sind Nicht Frei (Songs Are Not Free)

Die lieder sind nicht frei
Our songs are forbidden
Die lieder sind nicht frei
We must keep them hidden
        We better not write them
        Or sing or recite them
        Or even ask why
        Die lieder sind nicht frei.

Die lieder sind nicht frei
Our songs are disgraceful
Repugnant and foul
Obscene and distasteful
        So you may not hear them
        We must disappear them
        And sing only fluff
        About dragons named Puff.

Die lieder sind nicht frei
Let’s ban songs for drinking
They might make you cry
Or laugh or start thinking
        Ban songs that are dirty
        Sarcastic or flirty
        Let no one deny
        Die lieder sind nicht frei.

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 11 Feb 23 - 12:21 PM

Tom Lehrer's song "Smut" references book banning, but it's not entirely about that.

You can find the lyrics at https://tomlehrersongs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/smut.pdf, among other places. That version includes a small revision to the original lyrics.

There are also recorded versions on the 'net, which might be more useful to someone planning a radio show.

Subject: RE: Origins: Songs about book banning ?
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 21 Feb 23 - 08:37 PM

The songwriter Gary Kanter has written "We're Burning Books Tonight!", which is about both the banning and the burning of books. You can find it on his web site at https://garykanter.com/videos/were-burning-books-tonight/.