Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)

Subject: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank
From: Jolenn
Date: 09 Mar 99 - 07:55 PM

Does anyone know, or know how to get the lyrics to the German folk song "Schnitzelbunk"? I would love to have my class sing it at their recital. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to
From: hotspur
Date: 09 Mar 99 - 09:19 PM

Do you mean the singing game? i learned it like this:

Ist das nicht a cuckoo clock?
Ja, das ist a cockoo clock!
Does it nicht go tick-tick-tock?
Ja, it does go tick-tick-tock!
Cuckoo clock, tick-tick-tock,
Oh du schone, oh du schone, oh du schone Schnitzelbank!

then you keep adding silly words that rhyme, as long as you like. hope this is what you meant.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to
From: SeanM
Date: 09 Mar 99 - 09:43 PM

For a particularly twisted version, see the 'Animaniacs' Warner Brothers cartoon series. Truly demented.

M

Subject: RE: Lyrics to
From: Jolenn
Date: 09 Mar 99 - 09:58 PM

Thank you for your response! Yes I do mean the singing game. Are there more lines, or does everyone create them? P.S. What are the Animaniacs words?

Subject: ADD: Schnitzelbank (Randy Rogel)
From: SeanM
Date: 10 Mar 99 - 12:49 AM

Warning: To those of you unfamiliar with the Animaniacs show, what follows won't make much sense. In the meantime, the changed lyrics are probably copyrighted... be warned.

Schnitzelbank
Music: Trad. Lyrics: Randy Rogel

Ist das nicht ein piece of chalk?
Ya, das ist ein piece of chalk!
Ist das nicht ein key and lock?
Ya, das ist ein key and lock!
Piece of chalk, Key and lock,

(Chorus)
Oh, du schoene
Oh, du schoene
Oh, du schoene
Schnitzelbank

Are we having fun yet?

Ist das nicht ein cuckoo clock?
Ya, das ist ein cuckoo clock!
Does it nicht go tick tick tock?
Ya, it does go tick tick tock!
Cuckoo clock, tick tick tock
Piece of chalk, Key and lock

(Chorus)

You see, it's a very easy song. Would you like to try?

Oh gee, professor, that'd be great! What should I sing about?

Anything you want! The secret is to just have fun, okay?

OKAY!

Ist das nicht ein piece of bread?
Ya, das ist ein piece of bread!
Does it fit in Wakko's head?
Ya, it fits in Wakko's head!
Piece of bread, Wakko's head,

(Chorus)

Here, let me try!

Is he not a cute man this?
Ya, he is a cute man this!
Is this not a great big kiss?
Ya, dis ist ein great big kiss!
Cute man this, Great big kiss,
Piece of bread, Wakko's head,

(Chorus)

Here, I've got one!

Is dast nicht Otto Von Schnitzelpusskrankengescheitmeyer?
Ya, das is Otto Von Schnitzelpusskrankengescheitmeyer!
Ist das nicht ein incredibly long name to have to try and say?
Ya, das ist ein incredibly long name to have to try and say!
Cute man this, Great big kiss,
Piece of bread, Wakko's head,

(Chorus)

Hey! You kids is pretty good!

We're just getting warmed up!!

Ist das nicht ein Otto's gut?
Ya, das ist ein Otto's gut!
Ist das nicht ein Otto's butt?
Ya, das ist ein Otto's butt!
Otto's gut, Otto's butt,

(Chorus)

Ist das nicht ein pair of pants?
Ya, das ist ein pair of pants!
Ist das underwear from France?
Ya, dat's underwear from France!
Pair of pants, Shorts from France,
Otto's gut, Otto's butt,

(Chorus)

Ist das nicht ein hairy chest?
Ya, das ist ein hairy chest!
Ist dis man no longer dressed?
Ya, dis man's no longer dressed!
Hairy chest, he's not dressed
Pair of pants, Shorts from France
Otto's gut, Otto's butt

(Chorus)



To those of you unfamiliar with the fine points of American children's cartoons, this particular one is the Warner Brothers (and Sister), respectively Yakko, Wakko and Dot, abusing a poor German singing instructor.

Is it folk? It was at one point. Is it funny? That's for everyone else to decide.

M

Subject: RE: Lyrics to
From: SeanM
Date: 10 Mar 99 - 12:50 AM

My apologies for the scattershot lyrics. I've never posted full songs before...

M

Subject: Info: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank
From: toadfrog
Date: 27 May 01 - 03:00 PM

Does anyone know more about this song? Is it a German or an American song? I believe it is Pennsylvania Dutch. I sang it once to a German friend, who insisted it was not and could not possibly be a German song and that countingsongs (such as e.g. "Green grow the Rushes," "Children Go where I Send Thee," "Twelve Gates to the City," and the like) were completely alien to German tradition..

Ist das [or "des"] nicht ein Schnitzelbank?
Ja, das ist ein Schnitzelbank!

Ei, du schöner [or "schener"], ei, du schöner, ei, du schöner Schnitzelbank!

Is das nicht ein Kreuz und Quer?
Ja das ist ein Kreuz und Quer.
Kreuz und Quer! Schnitzelbank!

Ei, du schöner, ei, du schöner, ei, du schöner Schnitzelbank!

Ist das nicht ein Hin und Her?

Ist das nicht ein Hochzeitsring?

Ist das nicht ein gefährliches Ding?

u.s.w.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Uwe
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 09:20 PM

Alright duffusses. It actually has German lyrics.

like Kreuz und Kwer, and then Schiess Gehwer.

The ones I recall are

Schnitzel Bank
Gnadige Kerl
Haufen Mist

and there are many many others. Though I like the fun idea of adding English ones so that kids get into it.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 02:18 AM

It's an old German song and play.
At first a grammatical advice: Schintzelbank is feminine, so the adjective must be schöne.
Performance: Anybody in the round may improvise four lines depicting pecularities of a person, or reporting an event in rhymes, then chorus replies with the Schnitzelbank.
So there is no official stock of stanzas.
This custom is still official in a fraternity house in Erlangen with the door of the WC. Late during an assembly with more or less drinking the door is brought into the assembly hall by the freshmen, then an older student draws pictures with chalk on the door and sings about special happenings of the last week(s). Instead of Schnitzelbak they naturally sing Lokustür (from lat. locus = the (certain) place).

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 02:38 AM

Usually, Wilfried is the one to correct me with good reasons, but this time I insist his correction is wrong (Wilfried, you are living too far in the north to know this).

It is troditionally der Schnitzelbank in this song and 'schoener' is then of course correct too.

Why? See this old thread about the song. The link in my old post is still valid and points you to an explanation why der Schnitzelbank is at the very least acceptable if not the only correct German.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 06:13 AM

From Wolfgang's old post:
"While searching for the roots to this song I found another meaning of the word 'Schnitzelbank' which was completely new to me. It fits fine here and explains the lyrics beautifully: Schnitzelbank = 'Bänkelsängerverse mit Bildern' ('more or less bad verses for ballad-singers with pictures'). This word has the article 'der' and not 'die'. And now the lyrics start making sense: 'Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank' is completely correct German and means roughly 'Isn't that here a succession of bad verses'..."

Wolfgang - this meaning is also absolutely new for me and makes sense.
Thanks.

Wilfried

Subject: Lyr Add: SCHNITZELBANK (trad. German)
From: Joe_F
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 09:37 PM

Here are the words from _The New Song Fest_ (spelling corrected, and -e for umlaut):

Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank?
Ja, das is ein Schnitzelbank.
Ist das nicht ein Kurz und Lang?
Ja, das ist ein Kurz und Lang.
Kurz und Lang, und Schnitzelbank.
Ei du schoene, ei du schoene,
Ei du schoene Schnitzelbank.

Ist das nicht ein Hin und Her?
Ja, das ist ein Hin und Her.
Ist das nicht ein Lichtputzscher?
Ja, das ist ein Lichtputzscher.
Lichtputzscher, Hin und Her, Kurz und Lang, und Schnitzelbank.
Ei, usw.

Similarly, cumulating at the end:

Krum und Grad, Wagenrad.
Goldener Ring, Schoenes Ding.
Gute Wurst, Grosser Durst.
Herbergsmutter, Gute Butter.
Besenstiel, Automobil.
Herbergsvater, Gigger-Gagger.
Helles Licht, Affengesicht.

As to the gender, this source is of the masculine persuasion, but my Cassell's makes Bank firmly feminine. It does not list Schnitzelbank, but at a guess the meaning is carving block or bench.

The things mentioned seem to be

Carving block, short and long,
To and fro, candle snuffer,
Crooked and straight, wagon wheel,
Gold ring, pretty thing,
Good sausage, great thirst,
Mistress of the hostel, good butter,
Broomstick, automobile,
Master of the hostel, (Gigger-Gagger?),
Bright light, monkey face.

In a discussion on rec.music.folk some years ago, someone stated that this song was American & unknown in Germany, but I am inclined to doubt it in view of the Herbergsmutter & -vater. The scene, I fancy, is in a German youth hostel, after lights out. Perhaps one fellow is standing in the moonlight streaming thru the window, making gestures appropriate to the articles mentioned, which, in view of their Freudian content, might well add to the hilarity. At length, the Herbergsvater arrives with his helles Licht to tell them to shut up & go to sleep, and they seize the occasion to finish the song by mocking him.

Perhaps the Germans in this company will enlighten us.

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:50 PM

I recall singing this song while at summer camp in the 1940s---lyrics added to reflect the camp---things like:

Is this not a tennis player, is this not a tennis loser,OH du shoner OH du Shoner OH du SHoner Shnitzelbank.

Or something close.

The camp---Ethical Culture Camp---Cooperstown NY---long gone.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyrics to Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:23 PM

The middle bit of Spike Jones We heil right in der Fuehrer's Face sounds like it borrowed from this song. Or am I mistaken?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,renne
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 10:46 AM

Hi! I am putting together a scrap book for my dad and was research hischildhood camp at the ethical culture school in cooperstown and came across your posting- is there anythin you could tell me about the camp- photos, clipings any thing that would add to my understanding of his experence? His name is pete Spaulding and he attended in48 and 49- you may email me back at [e-mail]-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 05:13 PM

Renne: detailed news is in an e mail. If you don't get it please contact me.

          Glad that Joe let me know about your quest----delighted to reminisce and share this

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 02:57 PM

Joe F - fine thoughts about the youth hostel. Herbergsvater and - mutter might be older, from the times of the wandering apprentices; every couple running a housing for them was called Father or Mother. This usage was transferred to the military stockades which were called "at Father Philip", from a now unknown CO [in Berlin ?]

For anybody interested in the form of a Schnitzbank (carving bench): the carver sits on the place where in this picture the tools are placed and fixes the wood with pressure of a foot to the lever. The neighbouring pram does not belong to the carving bench!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Tina
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 01:48 PM

Our theatre group is doing a musical review for Octoberfest and I'm hoping to get audience participation in doing this song.
I grew up in Las Vegas and we used to go to a German restaurant called The Alpine Village. In the basement restaurant you could throw your peanut shells on the ground and someone would lead this song at least once during your meal (complete with pictures). Needless to say, a favorite for the kids.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Danielle Day
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 02:20 PM

A very good, readily available book of German folk songs: "Das grosse Hausbuche der Volkslieder" Mosaik Verlag ISBN 3-570-02232-3. No "Schnitzelbank" though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Guest, Plank
Date: 20 May 08 - 11:37 PM

It was mentioned that there is a possibility that this song is American. I was wondering if anyone else had a clue as to its origins. My American born, German grandmother remembers this song from her youth, and I was able to locate the lyrics for her, but can not figure out where it came from. We asked around when we were in Germany but couldn't find anyone who had heard of it. I did visit the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa and was able to locate people there who were familiar with it.

Any Ideas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 26 May 08 - 03:47 AM

Plank - due to Wikipedia it is still a part of South West German carnival, also in Basel (CH).

The English article is concerned with the Schnitzelbank in the USA.

Sing and enjoy
Wilfried

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 May 08 - 12:48 PM

I have a couple of CDs of songs the Amish sing, all in Pennsylvania Dutch. The singer, John Schmid, and his family are from Berlin, (pronounced 'Burrlin') Ohio and he is a man who is heavily vested in prison ministry all over the midwest. He called me on the telephone once and we had quite a long chat.

The songs are fun. Most of them I had never heard but the words are straight out of my childhood.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Joe_F
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 09:52 AM

The page
http://www.genevieve-cory.150m.com/music/schnitzelbank.html
contains a remarkable amount of additional information about this song, including numerous additional versions.

It seems there is a widespread belief that not only the song, but the actual device, was invented in America by German immigrants! Both parts of this are debunked in the final entry. German versions go back to the 17th century.

I note with interest that in one version the Schnitzelbank has become a Hobelbank (bench for planing).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Wolfgang Berger
Date: 19 May 09 - 01:08 PM

Was ich da so lese ist ein bischen zu viel amerikanisches deutsch.
Es heißt nicht "ein" Schnitzelbank sondern "ne" Slang von "eine".
Eine Bank ist feminin.
Im deutschen gibt es keinen Lichtschputzer. Der Guy heißt Lampenputzer.Otto von Schnitzelpusskrankengescheitmeyer macht auch keinen Sinn. Nun vieles in diesem Song ist ohne Sinn, sollte aber in deutsch verständlich sein Schnitzelputzkrankengscheitmeyer, wäre ein Wort, daß man verstehen könnte.
Nun was ist eine Schnitzelbank. Auf dem Ding saß man und schnitzte Dachschindeln (wooden Shingels)
You might find a picture of such a thing on the Internet.
Wolfgang B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 May 09 - 01:19 PM

Wolfgang Berger, many words brought from the 'old' country have been corrupted and anglicises in the 'new'.

The Amish dialect (that they all use) is especially bad, perhaps. As a child I and my family spoke a heady mixture of German, Amish dialect and English, often in the same sentence and in some cases, not even knowing how mangled our speech was.

'Blackberries', for instance, became 'BLACKberrien'; gravy on bread became 'GRAVYbrot' and so on.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Schnitzelbank (German)
From: GUEST,Bettina
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 09:10 PM

Very interesting threads. My German grandmother never heard of the Schnitzelbank. I came from Berlin in the 60's and also never heard of it. Whenever I return to Germany, I don't see anyone singing it. I am very interested because I teach Basic German at a university here in the U.S. and would like to include this song in my class.