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Subject: Lyr Add: EPPELEIN VON GAILINGEN (Colin Wilkie) From: Wolfgang Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:56 AM The correct thread title would have been 'Lyrics add: Eppelein von Gailingen' but you might have expected a German song following a German title and not an English song with a German title. Therefore I added the songwriter's name to induce you to open the thread. Colin Wilkie is a singer of traditional and contemporary songs, a singer of shanties (with Shirley Hart), a writer of many modern songs in traditional style, but foremost, from a German point of view, he has introduced English language traditional folk songs into the German radio as a long term host for a radio folk show. Eppelein von Gailingen is the hero of a narrow escape from the gallows in an old German saga describing the seemingly impossible saving leap of his horse over the Nuremberg castle moat. Colin Wilkie thought that that was a stuff for a ballad and since he couldn't find a German ballad he wrote one himself, a modern English ballad based on a more than 700 years old German story. This is my transcription from the mulitple singers and bands CD 'I wish I'd written that song. A tribute to Colin Wilkie'. EPPELEIN VON GAILINGEN (Colin Wilkie) It was on the road to Nuremberg a mighty battle I did see, it took above 100 men to bring a fierce knight down. They fought throughout the afternoon 'til force of arms it did prevail: Eppelein von Gailingen in iron chains was bound. Eppelein, The soldiers brought him to the town the Nuremberg judge said: 'You must die.' He laughed at the right scornfully and this was his reply: 'You may build your gallows high to the tower above the castle wall, Eppelein von Gailingen he will outlive you all. The judge he said: 'Your death is near, tomorrow morning you will hang, a final wish we'll grant to thee, before you face the tree.' 'Sit me once upon my horse that faithfully has carried me, put the reins into my hands once more before I die. They sat him on his faithful mare and put the reins into his hands, he dug the heels into her side, she answered his command. One leap, she's cleared the castle wall, like the wind raced through the town, they heard him laugh as he rode away: 'I always shall be free.' What are the facts? In the fourteenth century in Germany there were many knights making a living out of robbing rich merchants. They had been participants or descendants from participants of the crusades and had learned nothing but warfare. They saw the merchants and trading as a reason for their growing poverty and became Raubritter (robber knights), for slaying and robbing was all they knew. The robbing of the rich has at all times and in all countries been an activity looked at with much less scorn by the poor than by the rich themselves. So some of the robber knights (as highwaymen in other times) became quite popular though the folktales used to make them much nicer fellows than they actually were. The Eppelein von Gailingen of the folk tale was popular both for his daunting robberies (even in the middle of Nuremberg town) and for his above escape from the gallows. The guides in Nuremberg even today will show you the imprints of his horse's hooves on the castle wall (keep a straight face). Known facts: Eppelein von Gailingen has actually lived, his date of death, as usual in those times, being better certified than his date of birth. He was a robber knight, especially at the expense of Nuremberg merchants, he has escaped some way or the other from a first sentence to death. Well, and he died in 1381 when he fell into the hands of the people of Nuremberg for the second time. He was broken on the wheel and decapitated. There's a saying in German we most probably owe to the Eppelein story: 'Die Nürnberger hängen keinen, sie hätten ihn denn.' The people of Nuremberg don't hang a man, unless they have him. This is a song that just has to be (re)translated into German. My brother and I have done this. EPPELEIN VON GAILINGEN (Reinhard and Wolfgang Hell) Auf dem Weg nach Nürnberg sah ich eine große Schlacht, da kämpfte gegen einen Mann eine Übermacht. Um ihn zu überwältigen, sie kämpften einen Nachmittag, bis Eppelein von Gailingen zuletzt in Ketten lag. Eppelein Sie schleppten ihn auf Nürnberg's Burg, den Todesspruch fällt' das Gericht, doch Eppelein, der lachte bloß dem Richter in's Gesicht: 'Ihr könnt ruhig den Galgenbaum, so hoch Ihr wollt, in Auftrag geben, Eppelein von Gailingen wird Euch noch überleben.' Der Richter sagte: 'Morgen früh wirst Du Deinen Henker seh'n, doch einen allerletzten Wunsch mag ich Dir zugesteh'n.' 'Setzt mich nochmal auf mein Pferd, das mich getragen hat als Herrn, gebt mir die Zügel noch einmal, dann sterb' ich doppelt gern.' Und als er auf der Stute saß, die Zügel hielt und Sporen gab, da macht' sie einen Riesensprung von Nürnberg's Burg herab. Wie der Wind ging's durch die Stadt, an Wache und am Tor vorbei, sein Lachen hörten sie von fern: 'Ich bleib' für immer frei.' Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: GUEST,Robert Eppelein Date: 09 Dec 04 - 11:22 PM Thanks for the information and the ballad... Have often wondered what was fiction vs fact. Robert |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: GUEST Date: 11 Dec 04 - 07:15 AM Hello Robert, Thanks for showing so much interest in the song. Hello Wolfgang thanks for giving Robert so much background information and, of course, for doing an excellent, singable translation of it with your brother Reinhard. I was first told the story of Eppelein by Susi Kröher, a really beautiful woman ( both physically and personally ) and one I miss greatly; she was married to Hein - the elder ( by about 20 minutes ) half of the " singing twins " from Pirmasens; Hein and Oss. After Susi had related the facts, I searched several German songbooks for a ballad - imagening there'd be dozens, but finding none, decided I'd have to write my own. The recording on the CD: " I Wish I'd Written That Song " is by my wife: Shirley and our son: Vincent ( all three of us have, of course, visited the scene of the story several times. ) It's quite amazing, Wolfgang, that you - as a non-native speaker - managed to get the words down so well. There are a couple of tiny errors, and I hope you won't think me a churlish nit-picker for pointing them out ( after all, I'm in favour of the " Folk Process ", and singers adapting lyrics and tunes , in order to identify better with a song, so haven't " corrected " them all, just where I thought it made more sense. 2nd verse: line 3: He laughed at THEM.... 2nd verse: line 6: Till THEY tower above..... last verse: line 3: He dug HIS heels..... Once again, thanks for all the interest you've all shown. All the best Colin |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: John MacKenzie Date: 11 Dec 04 - 08:24 AM Nice to hear these things from the pferde's mouth. Hope you are well Colin, it's been too long. Giok |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: Dani Date: 11 Dec 04 - 02:09 PM Hello Colin! Welcome to Mudcat! My father's name was Wilkie! You don't see the name every day, though there are some in the mountains of North Carolina. I had heard it to be a Scottish name, though my grandfather married a woman from Germany, thus confusing us descendants a little. Dani |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: Abby Sale Date: 11 Dec 04 - 02:46 PM Hello Dani - Hi. I expect to be back up your way in a month or so. Especially, hello, Colin. So you've finally online! Everybody does sooner or later. My best to Shirley. If you're not a "member" here, you can't use the PM thingy - my e-mail is AbbySale@yahoo.com. (BTW, I've never heard Wolfgang speak but he probably writes better English than what I does.) Good job, as always, Wolfgang. Any exact dates on this one? |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: Wolfgang Date: 11 Dec 04 - 03:04 PM My spoken English is much worse. I read and write English nearly daily, but I speak it about twice a year. Colin, I do appreciate the corrections, actually. I always try to get as close as I can to the original version. And at least as long as the songwriter is still alive the folk process should be slowed down a bit. Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: GUEST Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:49 PM Hello Giok, I forgive you the " pferde " remark !! Yeah, thanks we're keeping okay. Hello Dani, Yes Wilkie is a Scots name ( as, of course, is Colin ) and we are members of Clan MacDonald. I was born in South London but of a Scots/English mix ( when England plays Scotland I can't lose !!! ) Hello Abby, Well that was a really big surprise for me and Shirl - bin a helluva long time ( 40 odd years ) since the old " Monaco " in the Rue M'sieur Le Prince, days, ain't it ? It's still there, but totally changed. I'll mail you and we must try to bring each other up to date - I'm still in contact with several of our Paris mates. Finally hello Wolfgang, Wish my written German was as good as your written English. Thanks again for the translation of " Eppelein " All the best to all of youse Colin |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: harvey andrews Date: 12 Dec 04 - 06:59 PM Greetings my old mate, I hope you are both well and seasons greetings! |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: John MacKenzie Date: 13 Dec 04 - 05:25 AM Colin I seem to remember your being friendly with Derek Serjeant, anyway I myself have just re-found him after too many years. You may know all this already but if you want any details let me know. Giok |
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Subject: RE: Colin Wilkie: Eppelein von Gailingen From: GUEST,Colin Wilkie Date: 13 Dec 04 - 06:02 AM Hello Harvey, Blimey, mate, fancy finding each other like this. In't the Net a beautiful thing ? Hope we get ter see yer some time. Best from me and Shirl Colin PS:Thanks for the information, Giok. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Eppelein von Gailingen (Colin Wilkie) From: GUEST,colin wilkie Date: 31 Dec 04 - 07:21 AM Hello Wolfgang & Reinhard, My son, Vincent, intends to add the lyrics and chords of some of my songs - as a kind of " songbook " - to my homepage: http://www.colinwilkie.de http://design.lichterkettenraucher.de and we'd very much like to include your German version of " Eppelein " along with my original English words. Would this be okay with you ? We'd be delighted to hear from you. Thanks All the best Colin |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Eppelein von Gailingen (Colin Wilkie) From: Wolfgang Date: 01 Jan 05 - 12:58 PM Yes, of course, Colin. I shall be glad to see our translation on your site and I'm sure I can speak for Reinhard as well. I'm only going to tell him later as a pleasant surprise (he doesn't come here; the one German Reinhard sometimes posting here isn't my brother). Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Eppelein von Gailingen (Colin Wilkie) From: Wolfgang Date: 01 Jan 05 - 01:30 PM Yes, of course, Colin. I shall be glad to see our translation on your site and I'm sure I can speak for Reinhard as well. I'm only going to tell him later as a pleasant surprise (he doesn't come here; the one German Reinhard sometimes posting here isn't my brother). Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Eppelein von Gailingen (Colin Wilkie) From: GUEST,colin wilkie Date: 01 Jan 05 - 04:22 PM Great, Wolfgang, Thanks a lot. It's still going to take a wee bit time before it's ready to go up - but we're working on it ! All the best for 2005. Colin |
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