Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Piers Plowman
Date: 03 May 22 - 07:36 PM

"Leefste" would be "liebste" in High German, "darling" (literally "dearest"). There's no standard spelling for Plattdeutsch (Low German), so "büst" could be spelled otherwise. The corresponding word in High German is "bist" ("(you) are"). "That you are my darling" would be the English translation of the title. Incidentally, Hannes Wader spells his name with a "W", which, of course, is pronounced like "V" in English.

In Germany, this song is mostly known as a Plattdeutsch song, even among non-Plattdeutsch speakers (who are very few and far between in, say, Bavaria).

Laurence Finston

Subject: RE: Plattdeutsch Folk Songs
From: Felipa
Date: 03 May 22 - 05:02 PM

I recognised DAT DU MYN SCHATSKEN BIST posted by Alan in 1998 as a song I was familiar with via the singing of Hannes Vader. He recorded an album of songs in Plattdeutsch and calls the song Dat du min Leefste büst (mainly a difference in spelling, and I thing Schatsken and Leefste have similar meanings, something like "darling")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EhdGVokcSE

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Monique
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 04:40 AM

Nigel's dood haan

Mijn haan is dood, mijn haan is dood
Mijn haan is dood, mijn haan is dood
Hij zal niet meer zingen kokodie, kokoda
Hij zal niet meer zingen kokodie, kokoda
Koko kokodie kodie koda
Koko kokodie kodie koda

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 04:10 AM

Wij komen van oosten

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: GUEST,robert of robert's creek
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 02:40 AM

I just happened upon this discussion and find it fascinating! Does anyone out there happen to know the lyrics to a rollicking Flemish easter song "Vei Kommen Van Oosten Vei kommen van ver"?

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 11:22 AM

Vijftig!

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Jan 10 - 11:14 AM

Dredged up from memories of campfires near Amersfoort (Apologies for spelling, I'm aiming for almost phonetical, but the English words should help someone correct me!)

Mai haan is doet, Mai haan is doet
Mai haan is doet, Mai haan is doet
Ni hi hit mer zimmer cock-o-dee cock-o-da
Ni hi hit mer zimmer cock-o-dee cock-o-da
Ni hi hit mer zimmer cock-o-dee cock-o-da
Cock-o cock-o cock-o cock-o-dee cock-o-da.

The song having been introduced by a Dutch scoutmaster, we then repeated one verse at a time in as many languages as were available:

My cock is dead, my cock is dead.
My cock is dead, my cock is dead.
He will sing no more, cock-o-dee, cock-o-da
He will sing no more, cock-o-dee, cock-o-da
He will sing no more, cock-o-dee, cock-o-da
Cock-o cock-o cock-o cock-o-dee cock-o-da.

Once we ran out of languages we all sang together in our own language one last time. What a cacophony!

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Frances van niekerk
Date: 28 Jan 10 - 05:01 PM

Bought dvd andre Rieu Live in Maastrict.
Can you please translate some of the woords of Ode to Maastricht in the Maastrict dialect for me to either Dutch or English


Regards
Frances van Niekerk
South Africa

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Anthony
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 09:10 PM

Hello this is anthony my fathers side is mostly rusian and german so i was jest wondering if you knew any rusian or german folk songs if you do id love to see them please put translation if you can thank you.

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Anthony
Date: 13 Aug 09 - 09:07 PM

Hello this is anthony my fathers side is mostly russian and german ,and i was jest wondering if you had any russian or german folk songs that you know. please if you do could you write them in with the translation i would love to hear them.

Subject: Lyr Add: HE, IK MACH DI
From: Phil O'Dendron
Date: 26 Oct 98 - 08:04 AM

Back again,

I'm still the same as Friday (Jürgen), although I've found the possibility to use my nickname.

For one of the first times after school to practise foreign languages, and especially for the first time in my life to use html. But I don't worry, it's just one command. ;-)

C.: He, ik mach di, mach wie du di dreihst un övermödig geihst
he, ik mach di so wie du büst!
He, ik mach di, mach wie du di högst und richtig heel vergnöögst
he, ik mach di so wie du büst!

1. ik mach dien daddelige Aart und weet, du glövst keen Wort,
ik mach di wenn du tüünst und denn verlegen grienst
kickst und spekulierst und still di amüseerst
und wenn du bedrippst mit de Oogen knippst.

2. ik mach wenn du di högst und richtig heel vergnöögst
wenn du mau und matt as so'n lütje Katt
di ganz sinnig rögst, denn schuern' röverbögst
sachte an mi leggst und liesen to mi seggst:

he - ik mach di, mach dien heele Aart und dien kruse Baart
he, ik mach di so wie du büst!

3. ik mach wie du di dreihst un övermödig geihst
wenn dien lütje Titt bi't Loopen sachte wüpp,
ik mach dien swatte Haar dar baben und ok dar
und dien freche Hand oh, wat de al kann.

4. Und wenn du seggst du hest de Näs jetz full und warst so richtig dull
fünsch und glöhnig kickst und wieder kummt dar nix
ach kiek mi nich so an, wat kann ik denn doran
wat schall ik denn blots dohn ach wae doch nich so dull

So far, I don't dare to try a translation ;-)

Jürgen

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 10:19 AM

Actually I think Danish is quite different, although it sounds similar to Dutch to our ears.

anne... (I´ve spied you in TheWorld-Thread), it´s your turn..

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 08:49 AM

I would imagine that Flemish speakers would have a problem understanding Plattdeutsch since the pronunciation of the Dutch overtones in the language is very different from Flemish. I also notice in it's written form it seems to have huge differences from either German and Dutch - so I see what you mean by it being a separate language!

It also seems to bear quite a big resemblence to Danish, (although I don't speak Danish, I've heard it very often - any Mudcat Danes out there would like to comment?)

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 08:39 AM

for Jerry and others:

Re: the differences between German, Plattdeutsch, Dutch and Flemish.
Plattdeutsch is considered to be not a dialect of German (as e.g. Bavarian) but a language of its own. It is not a well known fact that there are two languages officially admitted for usage in the German Parliament: German and Plattdeutsch (other minorities languages like, e.g., Danish, are not admitted). Plattdeutsch is not Dutch, but more similar to Dutch than it is to German. The boundaries, however, are vague. When I listen to Plattdeutsch I have a small chance of following the conversation though I'd prefer a Scottish highlander's dialect for ease of understanding. Of Dutch, I understand nothing. The Plattdeutsch speaking people, however, understand their immediate Dutch neighbours easily though their difficulties in understanding Dutch increase with increasing distance of the Dutch speaker from the German border. As far as I know, they do not understand Flemish though their immediate Dutch neighbours do.
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 08:22 AM

Thanks very much, Jurgen. I tried a few record stores here in the the UK for the album, and all got was a blank look and the question "Leader Who??"

(A problem with some of our record stores - "If it ain't rap it ain't cool, and if it ain't cool it ain't here!)

Regards

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Jürgen Morath
Date: 23 Oct 98 - 07:44 AM

Hello,

if you are patient until Monday, I may help you. I bought the Liederjan-LP a few years ago and there's still hope I didn't loose the text.

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 02:32 PM

That's a shame Daniel - I like it even more now I've seen the translation!!!

I'll try and pick the words out by playing it over and over again (but then, I'll probably get absolutely pissed off with it).

Thanks for looking anyway, Daniel.

Regards

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 22 Oct 98 - 02:26 PM

Hi Grame, sorry, I don´t have the Liederjan-words (i must have them somewhere, but can´t find them...) and I don´t understand it all. As for the second line, it goes (forget my spelling of Platt):

He, ik mach di, mach wie du dik dreist en overmödig geist

He, I like you, like the way you turn and walk (overmödig = übermütig = wantonly(?)), he likes her little tits jumping up and down and especially he likes her, when she gets angry...

He, ik mach di, so wie du büs (... just the way you are).

Again, sorry I can´t help you with the whole song,

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 02:51 PM

Graeme and Daniel - you should have your RealAudio recording by now. I don't really think there's a need to transcribe the tune of "Mien Gott, he kann keen Plattdüütsch mehr" for the forum. It's a standard Europop tune. Now, if Kiesewetter could come up with a more traditional-sounding tune, it might be an interesting song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 21 Oct 98 - 05:56 AM

Hi Daniel

Well, they'd certainly make sure there was something nasty in the Stella!!!!!!!

I'll let you know the title of the Liederjan song I'd like to learn (the tape's in the car right now and it's raining) - but the first line goes (as far as I can make out)...

"Hey, ich mags die....." - which I guess means Hey , I like you (?). The problem is the next lines sung with a very strong Schleswig accent and it sounds very strange to an English ear (In fact, every time I hear it it cracks me up!!)

If you have the text to it I'd love to have it.

Regards,

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Malena
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 06:15 PM

Hi Graeme, so please don´t tell Michelin and Louisa what I said about Dutch and Flemish, I know they wouldn´t like it!

Joe... I´d love to hear that one, never was a fan of Knut Kiesewetter, but you got me interested: [e-mail]

Thanks, Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 04:00 PM

I'm not any good at transcribing tunes by ear, Graeme, but I can make a RealAudio recording of the song and e-mail it to anyone who's willing and able to transcribe a tune for us. You gotta have e-mail that takes attachments, and RealAudio 5.0 or higher installed on your computer - and then MIDI software or ABC knowledge to transcribe it. Alison and Barbara seem to have mastered it. If you want the RealAudio recording, click on my name and send me an e-mail request.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 08:31 AM

Jerry, Kat'ynt Seil was correct. The name (don't know in what language) is a sea term (to kat the sail) close to meaning, to reef or lift the sail. If the helmsman needed to have a better veiw the sail (loose footed) could be hauled up at at where you'd normally see the gooseneck (where the boom joins the mast). This could also be a way to reef (shorting sail) or to spill some wind out of the sail. I met them at Mystic last year & we did quite a bit of informal seeing on the decks (a very sweet & nice bunch), they also sing in French, Spanish & I believe Italian. On tape & CD you don't get the energy & joy they get & give their music. They all (4) are very good singers/musicians but as a group they really shine with tight harmonies. My lack in the languages is just terrible, so most of the time I don't even try to overcome my shortcomings, with them it was hard not to join in. Like trying not to sing along with the Watersons just because you're not Brittish. Barry

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 06:52 AM

That's a great one Joe - and thanks very much for it.

I'm just going to try out your line break command to see if it works.................

Thanks
Joe

Any idea
How the tune
goes?

Best regards

Graeme

Subject: Lyr Add: MIEN GOTT, HE KANN KEEN PLATTDÜÜTSCH MEHR
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 05:54 AM

Since you've branched out into Plattdüütsch, I thought I'd make a contribution. I've always liked this one. I understand almost all of it, but not everything - same with most of the songs posted in this thread.
-Joe Offer-

MIEN GOTT, HE KANN KEEN PLATTDÜÜTSCH MEHR
-Knut Kiesewetter-

He weer ut School kam'n un he gung
To Stadt na de Studenten
He föhl sik wohl all de junge
Lüüd, de em nich kennten.
He wull dat Dörp von dat he keem
Am levsten dar verswiegen
He harr mit dat vun wat he keem
Nu gunnix mehr to kriegen.
Blots as he eenmal Ferien kreech
Un keem to hus torüch
Dar lachten al de Lüüd he seech
Em eenfach in's Gesich
Un sään: "Wat he grad seggt hett weer
As Hochdüütsch in Gedich,
Mien Gott, he kann keen Plattdüütsch mehr
Un he versteiht uns nich."

As he mal in Kroog rinkeem
Fung he an to vertellen
Vun Kunst un vun gude Benehmen
Un so de Lüüd to quälen
"Wen du so veel vun Kunst versteihst"
Sä Hein "un vun Benehmen
Denn kunnst du al de Tied uk meist
Vör uns en run utgeben."
Dar keek he Hein ganz truri an
Un gung ganz eenfach ruut
Un all de dar weern, Mann för Mann,
De lachten sik kaputt.
Se sään: "Wo hest du dat den her,
Dien dösige Gesich.
Mien Gott, he kann keen Plattdüütsch mehr
Un he versteiht uns nich."

As he nu längs de Dörpstraat leep
Dä he in Droom versinken
Sien Kinnertied föhl he ganz deep
He seech de Lüüd em winken.
He dach, wat is de Dag doch schön
Un al de Lüüd em winken.
He harr de Kohschiet wohl nicht sehn
De vör em leeg to stinken.
Dar repen all de Lüüd em to
"Peer in de Schiet nich rin"
Un he wunk wedder, weer so froh
Un harr de Fööt al bin.
"Ik segg di nich "tritt", ik segg peer"
Sä een em in't Gesich
Mien Gott, he kann keen Plattdüütsch mehr
Un he versteiht uns nich.

He gung uk mal to Priesskat hen
He wull sik amüseeren
Doch mutst du darvun schon wat kenn'
Sunst büst al an verleern.
Dar sä een "achtein" in een Spiel
He sä "so ungefähr"
Dar sä de anner "veer is veel",
En Glück ik heff nich mehr".
He kreech keen Snieder in dat Speel
Un seech ganz dösi ut
Nu weer em dat alwe'er toveel
Un he gung eenfach rut.
Dar sä de Kröger "Lüüd, dat weer
Dat End vun de Geschich.
Mien Gott, he kann keen Plattdüütsch mehr
Un he versteiht uns nich."

Note that I cleaned up several of the songs in this thread by adding HTML line break tags
at the end of each line so the lines don't get all squashed together. It's nice when people who post lyrics learn to do that for themselves.

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 20 Oct 98 - 05:01 AM

Hi Daniel....... I was talking to a Friesaner a couple of years ago and he told me that Frisian has a lot of ties to English as well. Certainly in pronunciation.... apparantly it was a way Frisian smugglers used to be able to tell if their group had been infiltrated by Excise men - the accent was so different from Dutch that a non-Frisianer couldn't pronounce it (and nobody from the islands would have joined the Excise so they couldn't get around it that way!) Apparantly they used a test phrase, something about green cheese. In Dutch there is no soft "ch" sound as in English - it's the same as your German enunciation. Anyway, in Dutch that would have been grun Kaas - in Frisian grun Cheese. (like English). So if the infiltrator couldn't say it they drowned him.

Hmm...... I'm not sure you should tell anyone from Flanders that their language is a dialect of Dutch ( I remember some of the names my Grandmother used to call people from the Netherlands!).

You are right about the cultures though - and it has always amazed me how different things can be in a country so small.

My mother's family came from Mechelen, near Antwerpen - and many of them still live around there. I visit them sometimes, especially my cousin Michelin (who has a bar in Leuven) and Louisa (who has a bar in Antwerpen).

And the beers are always cold!!!!!

Skol!

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 03:35 PM

Graeme... I just met you in the Mudcat-TheWorld-thread, hope you enjoyed the beer (coffee is supposed to be pretty bad at the Mudcat´s). What Liederjan-Song do you learn, maybe I can write you down the words (or do you have them?).

Jerry... I´m not an expert but as far as I know it: Dutch of course is the official language of the Netherlands, it has a lot of similarities to German, especially to Plattdeutsch, but it certainly is a language of its own.

Flemish is spoken in northern Belgium and I´d say it´s a Dutch dialect. Southern Belgians speak French, this little country is divided into two quite different cultures.

Frisian: Frisia is an aerea by the North Sea, it´s eastern part belonging to Germany, the western part to the Netherlands, so Frisian are Dutch and German (Plattdeutsch) dialects.

Plattdeutsch: are all the different Northern German dialects (plattdeutsch="flat-German", in fact Northern Germany is quite flat), not the same as but strongly related to Dutch.

Oops, maybe I AM an expert...

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Jerry
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 10:31 AM

Have you heard of the Dutch sea music groups Kat 'ynt Seil and Lierleet? (Not sure of the spelling, since I'm at work and the CD's at home). They have a lot of energy, tight arrangements and present a wonderful collection of traditional and original maritime music in Dutch and Frisian, and perhaps Flemish.

What is the difference between Flemish and Frisian and Dutch? They're more than just dialects, I believe. Are they complete languages in their own rights?

Jerry

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 19 Oct 98 - 06:21 AM

Hi Daniel.........

Male, - Graeme's an old Scots name. Not that I'm Scottish, but Mum liked the name, so I was stuck with it!

I'm a floor singer mainly, although I play a few instruments as well - the usual in any folk circle, like guitar, harmonica, recorder, tin whistle, and of course, drumming on the bar!

I'm not in a band, but I'm a member of a folk club that meets in a 16th Century pub in a very historic village called West Wycombe. It's pretty eclectic - everything from the "finger in the ear" style of singing to modern blues. My daughter got called on to sing once - and all she could think of was "Like a Prayer" by Madonna!

Anyway, if you want to chat outside the thread, my email address is [e-mail].

Thaks again for the tape - I'm trying to learn the words of one of the Liedesjan songs - VERY difficult!!

Regards

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 11:15 AM

Hi Graeme,

good, sometimes snail mail isn´t the worst thing in the world. Nothing special you could send me in return. But I´m interested in the kind of music you play, do you have a band, do you play often etc... Maybe you have some of yours taped you want to share? Funny how you communicate with people you know nothing about, I don´t even know if your man or woman, Graeme sounds absolut neutral to me...

KIT and KOP (Keep in touch and keep on playing)

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 17 Oct 98 - 04:55 AM

Daniel,

The tape arrived today - I've only had a chance to play a bit of it - the Plattdeutsch side. I's really good! For some bizarre reason it reminds me a bit of Cajun music - I really can't think why!

Daniel, thanks a lot for sending it, and the transcription. Anything I can do in return, just let me know.

By the way, I agree about computers causing us to "unlearn" to write - I get the same problem. My handwriting looks awful now beacuse I've worn my fingers down on the keyboard!

Best wishes,

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 07:24 PM

Hey Sophie......... Thanks very much - any time you can manage it will be great.

I really appreciate the response I've had to this thread, everybody that has contributed has given me some very valuable stuff, and especially Sophie and Daniel with their offer to send tapes.

Wolfgang and Allen - I sang "Dat du min Leevsten bust" tonight - it went down very well indeed. Many thanks for pointing out a very beautiful song. (Apart from one idiot who told me afterwards that the German was wrong - I told him it was Plattdeutsch, and he didn't have a clue what that was - there's always one isn't there?)

Once again many thanks to all of you

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 03:47 PM

Hi Graeme, snail mail´s on it´s way! Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Sophie
Date: 14 Oct 98 - 10:04 AM

Hi Graeme,

sorry for the delay, been a hectic week. Will get that tape to you, but cannot put a date on it ( should not be longer than a fortnight or so) as I'll be getting a double tape deck by then, so I can record from tape to tape. Will send it asap,

Sophie

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 13 Oct 98 - 05:01 PM

that´s PERFECT...

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 12 Oct 98 - 04:37 PM

OK, Daniel -

Graeme Platt

Smart's Lodge

Brimmers Hill

Widmer End

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire HP15 6NN

UK

Hope that's better.....

Cheers, Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 12 Oct 98 - 03:25 PM

Graeme,

could you do that AGAIN, and press double "enter" after every line... Otherwise you have all the words in one line (I could make it out, what I´d rather be sure),

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 04:20 PM

OK Daniel.......here it is.

Graeme Platt (no connection with Plattdeutsch!) Smart's Lodge Brimmers Hill Widmer End High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP15 6NN UK

Please let me know any costs as well, Daniel

Thanks very much indeed for taking the time - it's much appreciated

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 11:04 AM

Hi Graeme, good news, the tape´s ready (Rum and Liederjan), please send your address again, Daniel

Subject: Lyr Add: GEEF WAT OM DE ROMMELPOT
From: Graeme
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 06:30 AM

To all who have contributed so far........ Thanks very much indeed, all of you. I'm hoping to put all of these into a spot at the folk club where I sing (all very amateur, no money changes hands!!). Wolfgang - that midi was absolutely beautiful. And Daniel - I know about the laconic people of North Germany - Schleswig-Holstein in particular. They're very much like our Yorkshiremen over here - (they have an expression - "See all, here all, say nowt!")

Now here's one from me, (Which my Flemish granny used to sing to me......

Geef wat om de Rommelpot
geef ons dat voor Hutsepot
Van de liere, van de liere
Van de liere, leire om la
Vrouwtje geeft op Gods genaa

Geef wat spek and geef wat wurst
Geef wat bier al voor den dorst
Van de liere etc.....

Geef onse eene rib of twee
Geef ons dat voor moeder mij
Van de liere etc

T'verkner heeft een lange staart
Een is ook het eten waard
Van de liere etc

Karbonaden op den disch
Dan ons t'huis ook kennenis
Van de liere etc

Vrouwtje geef zooveel gijkunt
Hemelsvreugd word ze gegund
Van de liere etc

Many apologies for the (probably) awful Flemish - I had to write it phonetically - and from a memory 40 years old!

Cheers, all

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 04:42 AM

Allan's translation of "Dat Du min Leevsten bist" is obviously a singable translation. Finbar Furey has done the same job more than 20 years ago and named it Night Visiting Song. I'll post these lyrics in an extra thread "Night visiting song".

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: DAT DU MIN LEEVSTEN BIST
From: malena
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 03:49 PM

Hi Graeme, Wolgang, Alan,

yes, "DAT DU MIN LEEVSTEN BIST", that´s the way we know it over here...

Here's another nice one: people of Northern Germany are said to be rather, well, don't talk too much, and especially when emotionally involved, just don't seem to find the words and don't get their teeth apart. So there's two friends, one has to leave, and while the other one talks and talks, our friend doesn't find a word to say, except: "I gotta go."

He sä me so veel, en ik sä hem keen word,
en all wat ik sä wör, Jehann, ik mut fort.

He sä me vun leev, un vun himmel un eer,
he sä me vun allens, ik weet all niet meer,
he sä me so veel, un ik sä hem keen word,
un all wat ik sä wör, Jehann, ik mut fort.

He heel me de hand en he bee me so dull, ik schull
hem doch gut ween, un ob ik nich wull,
ik wör je niet bös, un doch secht ik keen word,
un all wat ik sä wör, Jehann, ik mut fort.

Nu sit ik un denk, un denk jümmer daran,
mik düch ik mus segt hebbn, was gern min Jehann,
un doch, kömmt dat wedder, so seggt ik keen word,
un holt he me seggt ik, Jehann, ik mut fort.

As I wrote this one down by heart, I can't guarantee for any spelling, though I don't know if anyone can in Plattdeutsch... The translation would be something like: He told me so much, and I didn't say a word, and all I said was, Jehann, I gotta go.

He talked about life, about heaven and earth, he talked about everything, I can't even remember, he told me so much and I didn't say a word, and all I said was, Jehann I gotta go.

He hold my hand and begged me so much, I should wish him goodbye, and why I wouldn't, I wasn't mad at you, still I didn't say a word, and all I said was, Jehann, I gotta go.

Now I'm sitting here and always have to think about it, I think I should have said, It's all right, my Jehann, and still, if this should happen again, all I would say was, Jehann, I gotta go.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 1-Feb-02.

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 01:06 PM

especially for Allan in Vancouver and Graeme:

I was surprised to find that old night visiting song from the North of Germany in Mudcat. It is one of my favourites.

Go here for slightly different lyrics and for a midi of the beautiful old tune.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 08:51 AM

Actually Plattdeutsch is still spoken today by a lot of people in Nothern Germany. It is in deed very similar to Dutch, but that doesn´t mean that songs in Plattdeutsch are from old times before these languages seperated. There´s a lot of modern Plattdeutsch songs too. Interesting that while it´s considered one German dialect, there exist dozends of different Plattdeutsch-dialects... Graeme, I hope I´ll get along with just one tape (I have a nice record of songs in Plattdeutsch by a band called Liederjan)...

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 06:47 AM

That's a lovely song, Allen. I note yours isn't a literal translation, and better for that since the Plattdeutsch doesn't come out into English too well.

Thanks for that - I'll try to put a tune around it and see how it works at my Folk Club next Wednesday!

regared

Graeme

Subject: Lyr Add: DAT DU MYN SCHATSKEN BIST
From: Allan in Vancouver Canada
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 02:30 AM

Here's a song that seems to date back before Dutch and German separated. It is in "plat-Deutch" (low German). The theme is surprisingly modern. My English translation appears before each verse in the d(e)utch

=====================

Dat du myn Schatsken bist

I hold you in my heart, whisper you care
Come in the night, come in the night, say who you are

Dat du myn Schatsken bist, dat du well weest,
Kum by de nacht, kom by de nacht, segg wo du heest
Kum by de nacht, kom by de nacht, segg wo du heest

Come in the darkest night, come at 1am
Mother's asleep, father's asleep, I lie alone

Kum du um mitternacht, kum du klok een
Vader slopt, Moder slopt, ik slaap aleen

Tap on the window love, open the door
Father thinks, mother thinks, it is the wind

Klop an de kamerdor, faat an de klink
Vader meent Moder meent, dat deit de Wind

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Alice
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 08:34 PM

Daniel--- the eclectic amateur musician syndrome, yes, I have that virus, too. I think alot of Mudcatters have it from what I have read here since March of '97. I found some recordings available of women singing tangos (haven't ordered them yet) and now am already thinking of what I will be rehearsing to perform next Robert Burns day!!! (thank you, Jean Redpath, for recording 7 volumes) Thank goodness we have all found the Mudcat Cafe to hang out in and fulfill our need to discuss and share so many different aspects of music.

alice in montana

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: malena
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 04:14 PM

Hi Alice, the problem is I just can´t make up my mind and restrict myself to any kind of music. Playing three different kinds of instruments (fiddle, akkordeon and piano) and all different kinds of styles, I´m an amateur in all and an expert in nothing. But it´s all music to me and I love it all! Nice to meet you back here where I didn´t expect you, I´d like to invite you to a beer, but my modem doesn´t take it, sorry... Hi Graeme, I´ll send you some Rum, might take a while though. Could you write down your adress again? It looks quite chaotic, I can´t make out what´s street and what´s town, probably the same problem I had - what you write down doesn´t look the same once it´s submitted.

Hug to Britain and Montana,

Daniel

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Graeme
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 03:08 PM

Daniel

That is superb! I'll add it to a collection that seems to be growing rapidly! If you'd like to send a tape, that would be marvellous - my address is on the message I sent to Sophie (second one on this thread). Of course I'll reimburse any costs.

Dank U ., Daniel - U heeft me wel geholpen.

Tot ziens

Graeme

Subject: RE: Flemish/Dutch Folk Songs
From: Alice
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 02:12 PM

From tango to Flemish, Daniel, you are a treasure of international information. I'm impressed. How extensive is your library, and do you mind sharing with us a description of your musical expertise/travels?

alice