Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio)

Subject: I was not a Nazi polka
From: GUEST,Big Wayne
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 10:46 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics to "I Was not a Nazi Polka," originally (I think) recorded by Chad Mithcell Trio (without Chad, replaced by John Denver on this recording)? It is one of the better satires that the later formation of the group did.
--Big Wayne

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 01:22 PM

Hi, Wayne - This Page says it was on a Mitchell Trio LP on the Mercury label called "That's the Way It's Gonna Be." It didn't make it onto any of the CD reissues I'm aware of.
Darn. I'd love to hear this one.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: GUEST,Guest, Big Red
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:31 PM

I just recently purchased the record (one of those big round vinyl things) that has this song. If I can get my cookie working again (at home) I will get you my e-mail and if you are interested I can always make a copy on tape if either of you want it. It is a funny song.

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: khandu
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 12:41 PM

The Strange One, Carol the Sailor, probably has any info on any polka you want. Other than that, she's a pretty good fellow!

k

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: toadfrog
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 09:32 PM

Sounds like it could be sung to the tune of "I don't Want Your Greenback Dollar." (I don't want your nazi polka?)

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 10:33 PM

THANK YOU !

This was a fun thread...never heard of it but I love it!!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 11:02 PM

Mr. Deutschendorf looks pretty spiffy there in his suit and tie...

Aloha,
Mark

(I do have a vague memory of hearing this song, sometime in the Mesozoic Era.)

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 11:16 PM

Big Red, can you transcribe the lyrics for us?

thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: I was not a Nazi polka
From: GUEST,Big Red
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 11:24 PM

Joe--I would prefer to copy it to tape and send it to anyone who wants it. My problem is that I lost my cookie and can't seem to get my password. Sent my e-mail but got back an incomplete. (Incomplete because it doesn't give me my password) If I don't get it I will offer up my e-mail address on this thread. BR

Subject: RE: I was not a polka
From: Arkie
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 01:16 PM

If anyone wants to hear this particular song they might try downloading it from Kazaa. But promise to listen to it only once and delete.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 11:29 PM

Nope....it is NOW in my permanent collection...

ARKIE good point....We need a Mudcat KaZaa connection...something where the links connect to the songs...if I have done it once...I have done it 200 times...a song comes up on the MC and I download immediately through the Dutch protected KaZaa.

Sincerely
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,Big Wayne
Date: 21 Jan 03 - 04:10 PM

The first verse has this line: "Each and evry German dances to the tune of the "I was not a Nazi" polka..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: raredance
Date: 22 Jan 03 - 12:35 AM

Try this site. My connection is too slow tonight to play the music, so i cannot be certain it works.
http://www.skunk-hollow.net:8080/Music/Chad_Mitchell_Trio/

http://www.skunk-hollow.net:8080/Music/Chad_Mitchell_Trio/

rich r

Subject: Lyr Add: I WAS NOT A NAZI POLKA
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 06:01 PM

Here's my transcription from the sound file given above. A line beginning with "--" is spoken, not sung. A second "--" on the same line means a different speaker. "**" represents something I couldn't transcribe.

I WAS NOT A NAZI POLKA
(Norman Martin)

[The recording begins with a man sweetly singing in German. Another voice begins reciting as if translating:]

--As you travel through Der Schöne Deutschland,
--A melody will greet your ears.
--It's a melody that's been around in Deutschland
--For fifteen to twenty years.

Each and ev'ry German dances to the strain
Of the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
All without exception join in the refrain
Of the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

Goering wasn't crazy; he wanted to deport.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
We all thought that Dachau was just a nice resort.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

The German is so cultured, he does not like to fight.
The peaceful life is what he most enjoys.
For years, the German people were utterly convinced
** department manufactured children's toys.

I never shot a Luger or goosed a single step.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

--Was you not an SS guard? --I was not an SS guard.
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not love Ilsa Koch? --I did not love Ilsa Koch.
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not despise the Jews? --I did not; some of my best friends...
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not think Adolf great? --I did not. Adolf who?
--Adolf who! --Ja, Adolf who?
--Fritz, you're putting me on. --Was ist *** "putting me on"?
--Are you kidding me or something? --Nein, I'm not kidding you. Adolf who?
--Adolf Hitler. --Should I know him? Is he a folksinger?
--You don't remember. --Nein, I don't remember him. Who was he?
--Well,...

A little man, very mean, very loud and brash. --Mmm-mmm.
Not too tall, he never smiled, wore a black mustache. --Nein; I never heard...
He had a girl, Eva Braun, hair as red as flame. --Ah, ja, ja.
He papered walls for many years till his moment came. --Of course!

He's the one who clapped his hands, went into a dance.
When the news came to him that we had conquered France. --That's him!
He once said, when our flag proudly was unfurled,
"Today, Germany, tomorrow, the world!" [Becomes a hysterical chant] ...tomorrow, the world! ...tomorrow, the world! ...tomorrow, the world!
--I never heard of him. --Neither did I.

To our Israeli allies let us raise a toast.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sure there were some Nazis, two or three at most.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

We tried to throw off Hitler right from the very start.
That's what ev'ry hist'ry book should tell.
We hated Heinrich Himmler, Martin Bormann, too.
We believe as Sherman did that war is hell...hell...hell...hell...
[Again becomes a chant]...heil!...heil!...Sieg heil!...Sieg heil!...Sieg heil!

Germans are as gentle as flowers in the spring.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Germans are a people who love to dance and sing.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

--Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You there, you are not singing. Did you not like to sing? Tell me, you still have a family in Germany, nicht wahr? Sing!

Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sieg heil!

[Sung by the Mitchell Trio on "That's the Way It's Gonna Be," Mercury LP SR 51049, 1965.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 08:18 PM

Thanks a lot, Jim. Two people sent me recordings of the song, and I dawdled around about transcribing it because it was so long.
Thanks to you, I didn't have to.
-Joe offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: JJ
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 11:29 AM

Thank you, Jim, for doing that transcription. In gratitude, let me quibble with it!

I think the lines are:

Goering was a crazy we wanted to deport

I. G. Farben manufactured children's toys (I. G. Farben was the Nazis' Dow Chemical)

Was bedeuten sie, "Putting me on?" (roughly, "What does that mean?")
==========

But my big question is: Who was N. Martin, who wrote it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,Ray Bucknell
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:53 PM

N. Martin is, if I'm not mistaken, Norman Martin, who often wrote with Fred Ebb (Kander and Ebb being the better-known collaborators). Thanks for posting those corrections to the lyrics, JJ, you saved me the trouble. This is truly one very funny song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 10:26 PM

JJ: Thanks for the corrections. Now, since you seem to know a little German, could you tackle the verse that is sung in German at the beginning of the recording? I didn't dare even try.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Kaleea
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 01:30 AM

yumpin' yimminey! (says Kaleea in her Scanduhhoofeein accent she learned in Minn-nee-sooo-tuh) I vas in a Polska bant up noerth a few yearss ago, unt, ach du leiber, I nefer heart dis vone, yah!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: JJ
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 11:15 AM

I believe the German lyrics crooned at the top of the number are being simultaneously translated by the speaker.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 11:26 AM

Speaking of polkas, anyone got the lyrics to "Blitzkreig Over Kenosha" by the Black Holes?

Linn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 06:45 PM

JJ: Yes, but can you transcribe the German lyrics?

It's not terribly important -- I don't plan to sing the song myself -- but I'm a fanatic for completeness...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: JJ
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:28 AM

Transcribe them? Alas, my German does not permit this!

I played this song a couple of years ago for my teenage daughter, who was dumbfounded. She continued to be dumbfounded as I played the Trio's other political songs for her, occasionally having to explain who Billy Sol Estes and Lurleen Wallace were.

Then she said, "They actually let them record stuff like this?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 03:58 AM

Nice site - truncated to the Music directory it has these artists (haven't seen the "ol 8080" in a long time)

Alabama
Anthea_Lawrence
Arlo_Guthrie
Arrogant_Worms
Bachman_Turner_Overdrive
Bagpipe
Beatles
Bob_Seger
Bobby_Darin
Bonnie_Lou
Box_Car_Willie
Brobdingnagian_Bards
Bruce_Springsteen
Canned_Heat
Cat_Stevens
Chad_Mitchell_Trio
Cheiftans
Chet_Atkins
Chuck_Berry
Coasters
Crystal_Gayle
Dickey_Doo_n_Donts
Download
Duane_Eddy
Eddy_Arnold
Elven
Eric_Clapton
Ertha_Kitt
Flatt_n_Scruggs
Garth_Brooks
Gene_Vincent
George_Jones
Glenn_Miller
Gordon_Lightfoot
Grateful_Dead
Hank_Locklin
Hank_Snow
Hank_Thompson
Hank_Williams
Jerry_Lee_Lewis
Jessica_Walsh
Jimmy_Buffett
Jimmy_Rogers_new
Jimmy_Rogers_old
Joan_Baez
John_Lee_Hooker
Johnny_Cash
Johnny_Horton
Kingston_Trio
Kitty_Wells
Little_Jimmy_Dickens
Little_Richard
Little_Walter
Louis_Armstrong
Misc
Muddy_Waters
New_Christy_Minstrels
Oakridge_Boys
Patsy_Cline
Pete_Seeger
Peter_Paul_Mary
Phil_Ochs
Ravens
Ray_Stevens
Ray_Wylie_Hubbard
Red_Foley
Roger_Miller
Roy_Orbinson
Santo_and_Jonny
Scott_Joplin
Sheb_Wooley
Slainte
Slim_Whitman
Sons_of_the_Pioneers
Steve_Miller_Band
Temptations
Tex_Ritter
The_Diamonds
Three_Dog_Night
Tom_T_Hall
Ventures
Waylon_Jennings
Webb_Pierce
Woody_Guthrie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 04:23 AM

INTRODUCTION -

Da Sie durch Der Schöne Deutschland gehnen,
Einen geschehen Ihre Ohren.

Ist eine kleine Melodie in Deutschland,
Für fünfzehn bis Zwanzig Jahre.

As you go on your way through beautiful Germany
A little thing will happen to your ears.
There is a little melody in Germany
For fifteen to twenty years.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 03 - 10:30 PM

Anyone recognize the tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Feb 03 - 09:47 AM

Very nice song. And sad to be said, based on truth. Too many former Nazis came up after the war as 'innocents' or 'know-nothings' or 'mere supporters'.

My transcription of the German verse (that is repeated) including my corrections (c.w.b. = correct would be):

Als (c.w.b.: Wenn) Sie durch die (c.w.b.: das) schöne Deutschland gehen,
einen Gesang werden Sie hören:
ist (better: es gibt) ein kleiner (c.w.b.: eine kleine) Melodie (perhaps better: Lied) in Deutschland
für (c.w.b.: seit) 15 oder 20 Jahr (c.w.b.: Jahren).

Translation as in the English first verse.


corrections: was bedeutet dieses 'putting me on' (no change in meaning or translation)

Sieg (not: Seig) Heil

Perhaps not all of you know that "Today, Germany, tomorrow, the world!" is a citation from the chorus of a song (from 1932?):

Es zittern die morschen Knochen


Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: I WAS NOT A NAZI POLKA
From: chico
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 02:03 AM

D                            G
Wenn Sie durch Die Schöne Deutschland gehen,
       A             D
Einen gesang werder Sie Hören
            D                  G
Es gibt eine kleine Melodie in Deutschland,
       A                   D
Seit fünfzehn oder Zwanzig Jahren

   (As you go on your way through beautiful Germany
   A little thing will happen to your ears.
   There is a little melody in Germany
   For fifteen to twenty years.)

D
Each and ev'ry German dances to the strain
                         A7                     
Of the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

All without exception join in the refrain
                     (E) D
Of the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

Goering was a crazy; we wanted to deport.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
We all thought that Dachau was just a nice resort.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
      D          G            D                G
The German is so cultured, he does not like to fight.
    D                D7            G
The peaceful life is what he most enjoys.
      A7
For years, the German people were utterly convinced
                           E7       A7
I.G. Farben manufactured children's toys.

I never shot a Luger or goosed a single step.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

--Was you not an SS guard? --I was not an SS guard.
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not love Ilsa Koch? --I did not love Ilsa Koch.
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not despise the Jews? --I did not; some of my best

friends...
I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
--Did you not think Adolf great? --I did not. Adolf who?
--Adolf who! --Ja, Adolf who?
--Fritz, you're putting me on. --Was bedeutet dieses 'putting

me on'?
--Are you kidding me or something? --Nein, I'm not kidding

you. Adolf who?
--Adolf Hitler. --Should I know him? Is he a folksinger?
--You don't remember. --Nein, I don't remember him. Who was

he?
--Well,...
    D               G            A7      D
A little man, very mean, very loud and brash. --Mmm-mmm.
Not too tall, he never smiled, wore a black mustache. --Nein;

I never heard...
He had a girl, Eva Braun, hair as red as flame. --Ah, ja, ja.
He papered walls for many years till his moment came. --Of

course!

He's the one who clapped his hands, went into a dance.
When the news came to him that we had conquered France.

--That's him!
He once said, when our flag proudly was unfurled,
"Today, Germany, tomorrow, the world!" [Becomes a hysterical

chant] ...tomorrow, the world! ...tomorrow, the world!

...tomorrow, the world!
--I never heard of him. --Neither did I.

To our Israeli allies let us raise a toast.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sure there were some Nazis, two or three at most.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

We tried to throw off Hitler right from the very start.
That's what ev'ry hist'ry book should tell.
We hated Heinrich Himmler, Martin Bormann, too.
We believe as Sherman did that war is

hell...hell...hell...hell...
[Again becomes a chant]...heil!...heil!...Sieg heil!...Sieg

heil!...Sieg heil!

Germans are as gentle as flowers in the spring.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Germans are a people who love to dance and sing.
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.

--Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You there, you are not

singing. Did you not like to sing? Tell me, you still have a

family in Germany, nicht wahr? Sing!
         G            A7    D
Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka.
Sieg heil!


From my songbook
http://members.cox.net/uglyboy/MIRROR/toc.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: I was not a nazi-polka corrected w/ch
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 03:35 AM

By the Chad Mitchel Trio 1965 That's The Way It's Gonna Be/Violets Of Dawn- but seems appropriate to the currently touring

Winner of 2001 Grammy - Best Musical
The Producers book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks.

However, it does work its way into Rocky Horror Picture Show with lines by Strangepork.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Nov 05 - 06:21 AM

Was Bedeutet diese

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,Old As The Hills
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 03:25 PM

What no one seem to mention was the song shifted from 3/4 time to 2/4 time on the last verse so we go from a polka to a march.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: Greg B
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 03:44 PM

For those of you old enough to remember:

Waldheimer's Disease - A syndrome which makes you forget that you were
a Nazi.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 07:04 PM

GUEST,Old As The Hills wrote, "What no one seem to mention was the song shifted from 3/4 time to 2/4 time on the last verse so we go from a polka to a march."

There's definitely a sharp change in the tone for the last verse, but I don't hear the rest of the piece in 3/4 (except for the "A little man ... tomorrow, the world" segment). Most of the song is done very sweetly, but that last verse is done harshly, so the presentation of the words, "Germans are as gentle as flowers in the Spring," contrasts with meaning of the words.

The Trio had some showmanship.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 09:47 PM

I'm listening to this song now. Ahh, satire when satire was really satire. The next track on the LP is the Ecumenical March...great juxtaposition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,anythinglovecantbuy (ddpro)
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 11:06 AM

I Was Not A Nazi Polka

Wenn Sie durch Die Schöne Deutschland gehen
Einen gesang werder Sie Hören
Es gibt eine kleine Melodie in Deutschland
Fur fünfzehn oder Zwanzig Jahren

[Spoken]
As you travel through Die Schöne Deutschland
(Wenn Sie durch Die Schöne Deutschland gehen)
A melody will greet your ears
(Einen gesang werder Sie Hören)
It's a melody that's been around in Deutschland
(Es gibt eine kleine Melodie in Deutschland)
For fifteen to twenty years
(Fur fünfzehn oder Zwanzig Jahren)

Each and every German dances to the strain
Of the I was not a Nazi Polka
All without exception join in the refrain
Of the I was not a Nazi Polka

Goering was a crazy we wanted to deport
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka
We all thought that Dachau was just a nice resort
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka

The German is so cultured, he does not like to fight
The peaceful life is what he most enjoys
For years the German people were utterly convinced
I.G. Farben manufactured children's toys

I never shot a Luger or goosed a single step
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka

- Was you not an SS guard?
- I was not an SS guard.
I was not a Nazi Polka
- Did you not love Ilsa Koch?
- I did not love Ilsa Koch.
I was not a Nazi Polka
- Did you not despise the Jews?
- I did not, some of my best friends..
I was not a Nazi Polka
- Did you not think Adolf great?
- I did not, Adolf who?
- Adolf who?
- Ja, Adolf who?
- Fritz, you're putting me on.
- Was bedeutet dieses 'putting me on'?
- Are you kidding me or something?
- Nein, I'm not kidding you. Adolf who?
- Adolf Hitler!
- Should I know him? Is he a folksinger?
- You don't remember?
- Nein, I don't remember him. Who was he?
- Well..

A little man, very mean, very loud and brash
- Mmm-mmm...
Not too tall, he never smiled, wore a black mustache
- Nein, I never heard..
He had a girl, Eva Braun, hair as red as flame
- Ah, ja, ja.
He papered walls for many years till his moment came
- Of course!

He's the one who clapped his hands, went into a dance
When the news came to him that we had conquered France
- That's him
He once said, when our flag proudly was unfurled,
"Today, Germany, tomorrow, the world! (Yeah!) Tomorrow, the world! (Yeah!) Tomorrow the world! (Yeah!) Tomorrow the world! (Yeah! Yeah!)"
- I never heard of him
- Neither did I

To our Israeli allies let us raise a toast
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka
Sure there were some Nazis, two or three at most
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka

We tried to throw off Hitler right from the very start
That's what every history book should tell
We hated Heinrich Himmler, Martin Bormann too
We believe as Sherman did that war is hell.. hell.. hell.. hell..
Heil!.. Heil!.. Heil!.. Sieg heil!.. Sieg heil!.. Sieg heil!!

Germans are as gentle as flowers in the spring
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka
Germans are a people who love to dance and sing
Sing the I was not a Nazi Polka

[Spoken]
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You there, you are not singing.
You do not like to sing? Tell me, you still have a family in Germany, nicht wahr? Sing!

Sing the I Was Not a Nazi Polka
Sieg heil!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 03:57 PM

Sounds somewhat like "The Pennsylvania Polka" (sung by, among others, the Andrews Sisters).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Jun 09 - 04:17 AM

I would be interested in knowing the name of the sugary folk tune in the background of the opening spoken section.

The stage musical version of "The Producers" by Mel Brooks arrived in Berlin last month May, 2009...to sell out crowds and rave reviews...eight years after its opening on Broadway and world tours.

Der Spiegel, May 15 2009
...... www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/0,1518,625270,00.html

It IS similar to but NOT the tune noted by Guest above.
The dulcimer site (good midi collection) has "The Pennsylvania Polka"
...... www.dulcimers.com/tunes/penpolka.mid

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio
From: GUEST,attack clam
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 03:31 PM

The intelocutary chorus, btw, is to the tune of the Shnitzlebank song, a popular traditional german drinking song. Years after hearing the CM3 at a festival I was in a German restaurant where they passed around music sheets and we all sang it, bringing a sudden burst of memory.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,Old Timer
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 04:48 PM

I heard Peter Ustinov sing this, and I am certain that it is he, who wrote it, NOT the Kingston Trio. I also believe that there must exist a film that was made from an early video, and perhaps, even what was then called a Kinescope recording: video to film. There was no means yet to record video. There were many interesting interviews aired directly following the close of World War II, both on radio, which was all people had, and then, as television became available, on a variety of interview shows. Ustinov, who had been a spy, was much appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Was Not a Nazi Polka (Mitchell Trio)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 07:24 PM

Kingston Trio? Old Timer, you are the first person in this discussion to mention the Kingston Trio, let alone any suggestion that they may have written "I Was Not a Nazi Polka". It was *recorded* (not written) by the Mitchell Trio, and written by Norman Martin, as noted several posts up.