German songs for singaround

Subject: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 27 Oct 06 - 11:20 PM

Hello folks,

I play at a session/singaround in a part of Dublin frequented by tourists, and if any drop in and join the the session we ask them to sing a song from their own country (or if they're stuck, any country!). In case they're a bit shy or hesitant I've collected a few songs in several languages to get them started. I'm now looking for a couple of songs in German that German-speaking tourists might recognise. I've got pretty good German so learning the songs should not be a problem. Any ideas for suitable songs? Doesn't have to be folk. The age range is from college student to middle age.

While I'm on the subject, I'd appreciate tips for French and Yiddish as well.

Thanks in advance, Don Conlan

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: GUEST,Cookieless Genie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 12:31 AM

The ones I sing most often (except at Christmas time) are Lili Marleen, Muss I Denn, Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen, Die Gedanken Sind Frei and Die Lorelei.   

You should be able to find the words to those in the DT or forum, I think. Die Lorelei, Die Gedanken and Du Liegst Mir Im Herzen are also in Rise Up Singing, I think.

At Christmas time I add O Tannenbaum!, Es Ist Ein' Ros' Entsprungen (Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming), Still Still Still and of course Stille Nacht.

All of these seem to be commonly known among German-speaking folks.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 01:39 AM

Many thanks, Genie. Most of the titles are familiar, and I know Die Gedanken Sind Frei and Muss I Denn. I was thinking of having a couple of contemporary songs as well though, or the kind of deutsche Schlager that I've heard Germans sing at family parties: Reinhard Mey, Katja Ebstein, etc. I don't even need to sing the whole song--just get them started...

Regards, Don

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: eddie1
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 01:58 AM

Have a listen to some of the songs by Hannes Wader. He has translated Alex Campbell's So Long", Eric Bogle's "No Man's Land" and various others into German as well as singing songs like "Dat Du Mein Liebchen Bisst" which is a straightforward night visiting song in Plattdeutsch.

Eddie

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 02:32 AM

Of course, I'd forgotten Hannes, though I've met him on at least one occasion. Heute hier, morgen dort, maybe? I know Dat Du Mein Leevste (Sp?) Bist in Platt, but I don't think Southern Germans would be familiar with it (or would they?). Auf der Schwaeb'shen Eisenbahn would probably be only familiar to Swabians. Blinde Katerina was another one I was thinking of, but don't know whether anyone still knows it, or Unter dem Pflaster?

Regards, Don Conlan

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: eddie1
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 03:04 AM

Your spelling is probably quite correct - I have enough trouble with spelling in English, never mind Plattdeutsch. I have sung it in Unterfranken with success. A lot of people seem to know the song!
On one of the Wader-produced albums (Folk Friends or Folk Friends 2) There's a great version of "Hold The Fort" with verses in English and German!

Eddie

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Genie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 03:51 AM

Not totally "current" (but more so than Muss I Denn), how about Nena's 99 Luftballons (sp?).   I think it's from the late '70s to early '80s.

Subject: Lyr Add: IM SCHWARZEN WALFISCH ZU ASKALON (German)
From: Ernest
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 05:27 AM

I recommend "Im schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon", an old student song, not that well known but easy to sing along because te second half is repeated as a chorus (similar to a shanty), so it is easy to join in even if you don`t know it. It is a rousing drinking song written by Josef Viktor von Scheffel so it should fit well into a pub-session
I don`t have the dots, but here are the words:

Im schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon

Im schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da trank ein Mann drei Tag
ll: bis dass er steif wie ein Besenstil am Marmortische lag :ll

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da rief der Wirt Halt an,
der trinkt von meinem Dattelsaft mehr als er zahlen kann

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da bracht der Kellner Schar
in Keilschrift auf sechs Ziegelstein dem Gast die Rechnung dar

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da rief der Gast Oh weh
mein bares Geld ging alles drauf im Lamm zu Ninive

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da schlug die Uhr halb vier,
da warf der Hausknecht aus Nubierland den Fremden vor die Tür

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, wird kein Prophet geehrt,
und wer vergnügt dort leben will, zahlt bar, was er verzehrt

(Up to that verse it is the "official" song. Here is the folk-processed addition:)

Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da schlug die Uhr halb neun,
da kam der rausgeschmissne Gast von hinten wieder rein


Best wishes
Ernest

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 05:31 AM

One that always goes down well with Germans is Drafi Deutscher's appalling "Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht". (Do you like the grammar?) Another one, from the film "Große Freiheit Nummer Sieben" is, "Auf der Reperbahn nachts um halb eins", which has a wonderful chorus. That one is sung by old folks and young alike. It has also been covered by rock bands. It seems to be destined for folk song immortality. The other suggestions so far have all been very good. "Die Vogel Hochzeit" is also known and parodied unceasingly.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 05:46 AM

Apologies for my atrocious German (Learnt by living there for a couple of years in the RAF ) but what about this ?

Mein Hut er hat keine ecker
Keine ecker hat Mein hut
Unt ven er hat Keine ecker ,
Das ist nisch mein hut !

Which I believe is more or less -

My hat it has three corners , three corners has my hat
And when there are not corners , that is not my hat

Which is totally silly , but - - - -

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Wolfgang
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 11:48 AM

The second post songs are really known to all Germans, but young Germans may not really like them anymore.

Alanabit has mentioned the songs acceptable to younger and all age Germans (I would have recommended his first two as well).

Hannes Wader may be not known enough for them to sing along. 99 Luftballons is a good choice, Blinde Katharina (what a beautiful song) is too unknown, dat Du min Leevsten is also know to South Germans.

(BTW, Alan, regarding the grammar of Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht, it is correct German as I have learned just a few weeks ago. Before that I would have called it wrong. Gold und Silber lieb ich sehr, kann's auch gut gebrauchen is an old German student song with the same construction. Rule: If some nouns are mentioned that all come from the same group and are meant to designate one particular property of that group, in this example "all that is hard and strong" the singular may be used. But I didn't know that just weeks ago)

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:34 PM

Vielen Dank! The suggestion of 99 Luftballons is good--several young Germans mentioned it but at the time I didn't know the lyrics, and it's easy to sing. Everyone seems to know Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht (though I agree that's it pretty awful), so that'll go into the list. For an older crowd, Auf der Reeperbahn, with the chorus I heard in a St. Pauli bar:

Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb eins
Ob Du Maedel hast oder Karlheinz

along with some of the older songs suggested by Genie. I can sing several old Marlene Dietrich songs, but they don't seem to get a response from Germans, young or old, don't know why.

Regards, Don

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:37 PM

I suppose I could try the "German Clockwinder", for a laugh!

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 11:07 PM

Re Marlene Dietrich: How about the German version of Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind. It may not be popular with young people, but older ones will probably know it, and it's an easy tune.

Which reminds me of one of my favourites, Zogen einst fünf wilde Schwäne - probably derived from the same source as Pete Seeger's song.

Reinhard Mey, Gute Nacht Freunde and Über den Wolken might also go down well.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 11:52 PM

Hobellied
Lili Marleen
Schnitzelbank
Treue Husar
Treue Liebe
Weisst du, wieviel Sterne stehen

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: alanabit
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 02:19 AM

...ob du'n Mädel hast oder keins! Still in this age, what is wrong with a bisexual version? Auf der Reeperbahn.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 10:09 AM

or Auf der Autobahn nachts um halb eins

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: alanabit
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 10:21 AM

Brilliant!

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:18 AM

I read a memorable story about Burl Ives pulling a group of people waiting in a theater into an amazing chorus. He had them sing, as a round, an old song many know, I learned it from a German student:

Himmel und Erde mussen vergehen,
aber die musica, aber die musica,
aber die musica, bleibet verstehen.

(which means heaven and earth must fade away, but the music, the music, the music, will remain.)

It's a great song. I don't know if there are verses or not.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Keef
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:48 PM

Gotta do Tom The Toad....(to the tune of oO Tanenbaum)

My favourite verse is
Oh Fred the fish
Oh fred the fish
Why are you lying on the dish
Repeat
You did not see that hook ahead
and now your head is stuffed with bread.
etc

I just came up with 2 more (really bad) verses
Armadillo Bill
Armadillo Bill
Why did you want just one more thrill?
Repeat
High from the sky you thought you'd dive
Now you're no loooong
N ger alive (Groan)
etc

Then there is this one

Oh zebra Zac
Oh Zebra Zac
Why are you lying on your back?
Repeat
That bikie gang
they showed no pity
As they enjoyed
Besteeeeee ality!

I'll go now

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Genie
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 12:03 AM

Hasn't the Rodgers & Hammerstein song "Edelweiss" also been translated into German?

Actually, I should say I know it has been.   Just wondering how popular and well-known the German version is.

There's also the German lyric version of the song I know as The Happy Wanderer. It's here in the forum somewhere.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: alanabit
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 01:39 AM

I have met very few Germans, who know "The Sound of Music".

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Wolfgang
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 10:21 AM

The happy wanderer (Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann) goes well with older people. German Edelweiss isn't well known I'd say.

Himmel und Erde might work (correct lyrics here)

A far better known round (to which still today new verses are added) is
He, ho spann' den Wagen an which seems to be sung to the tune of Hey ho, nobody home, so everybody could sing in whatever language she prefers.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 03:25 PM

One of our group sings the Happy Wanderer--sang it last Sunday in fact. It would be nice to do a bilingual version with him. There's a nice song a friend of mine used to do, each verse ending with "Und die anderen all' die kleinen (Kuemmelchen, Luemmelchen, whatever) die liegen auf der Erd'." Don't know the name of it or who recorded it. He also sang "Die Nacht, es ist nicht nur zum Schlafen da". Maybe a bit too political?

Don

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 03:41 PM

What about "Freut euch des Lebens?" Or "Es zogen drei Burschen", maybe.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 05:20 PM

Murray, do you mean this one:

Freut euch des Lebens
Grossmutter wird mit der Sense rasiert
Alles vergebens
Sie war nicht eingeschmiert

Probably a German form of mouth music!

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: GUEST,Adrianel
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 06:56 PM

My father, a mining engineer, used to sing one that began:
Gluckauf, gluckauf,
Der Stieger kommt - -
Unfortunately, at the time (1950s)I didn't know enough German to make out more words. He called it a miner's drinking song, and it certainly went with a swing.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: GUEST,Adrianel
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 07:07 PM

Sorry, it should be STEIGER.
Googling "der steiger kommt" gets you the words, and some very interesting translations if you try it. I could whistle you the tune, but you may find on a German site. One of them offered a midi download.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Artful Codger
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 07:12 PM

You can find MIDIs (and lyrics) for "Im Schwarzen Walfisch" here at www.ingeb.org, a great resource for German folk songs - indeed, for folk songs from all over. Many of the other songs mentioned in this thread can probably be found there as well.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 07:54 PM

My father as as a member of The Anglo German Hiking Club till 1936 ,collected records . Best advice go to the Naffi then and buy there and get the best ,some political as a result, but superb. I was told by a German in England that their Folk had been lost in Germany after the war , I have them in England and must pass them on. Filter to CD then , Any ideas !!

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 31 Oct 06 - 09:00 PM

The Nazis took over many traditional songs (including the "apprentice" songs, wandering songs, etc.) and used them for their own purposes, indentifying them with the Nazi philosophy, so after the war the younger generation wanted nothing to do with them. Recordings from this period are still around (even if only from German right-wing groups), and lyrics are on the Internet--many are grand songs in their own way, but I wouldn't be interested in singing or even hearing them--there are so many good German songs around...

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: alanabit
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:14 AM

There was quite a good thread about German folk songs a while back, Shiamsa, with some very interesting contributions from our German contingent.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 06:26 PM

Thanks for the tip, Alanabit, I've downloaded the threads for a read. So many songs, so little time! Don

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:27 PM

Shinamsa . Records from 1925 to 1936 do cover original traditional singers before the "Nartzis took over" One or two feflect that influence then . The other 98% dont . They were the ones to keep !

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:04 PM

Appreciate your contribution, Richard, but this is real thread creep. The purpose of this thread is songs suitable to sing with German tourists in a singaround in Dublin. Do you seriously think that they'd be familiar with stuff recorded between 1925 and 1936?

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 11:58 AM

Don sorry if I wandered from the intension of your thread. The song I had in mind wes Du kannst nicht treu sein walzer Eleber,Otten 1936.A title search shows how it evolved over the years to 1966. It would be interesting to know if its still sung,perhaps your visitors could advise

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 02:49 PM

No probs, Richard. I'll look this up and check out with some Germans I know and if I find anything will get back. Don

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 08:46 PM

Don thanks for that. I would like to know! Good song and tune just hope it hasnt been lost.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 07 Nov 06 - 02:43 AM

The Nazis took over many traditional songs (including the "apprentice" songs, wandering songs, etc.) and used them for their own purposes, indentifying them with the Nazi philosophy, so after the war the younger generation wanted nothing to do with them
Wrong. We (born in the war or shortly after) sang and learned those folksongs at school and with the Boy Scouts.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 01:57 PM

Wrong for you, Wilfried, maybe, but that more or less exactly describes my feelings towards these songs and I am one of the "we" born shortly after the war.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Shiamsa
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 02:23 PM

Well, I agree that my statement is a generalization, but in the 70's and 80's I travelled for years all over Germany busking, playing in sessions and small festivals, etc., and that was what I was told by the majority of dozens of German musicians that I met, not to mention many others, when I asked them about German folk music. Many well known artists started with Irish or American folk before re-discovering German folk. I did find exceptions in villages and small towns in Swabia and Bavaria, because I was keen on learning German songs, and got the best response in the DDR--but that's a different kettle of fish.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:23 AM

alanabit: "'I have met very few Germans, who know 'The Sound of Music.'"

Actually, my understanding is that it is Austrians, not Germans, who have sort of 'adopted' Edelweiss and translated it into German.    I have seen the German version but don't have it handy at the moment.

Re the question of the Nazis co-opting old German folk songs, I've wondered for some time now about the similarity of the tune for "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" to that of "Die Lorelei." Is that coincidental, or did the Nazis deliberately sort of 'borrow' that old German folk tune and just change it slightly for their Hitler Youth theme?

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround: Edelweiss
From: Genie
Date: 11 Dec 08 - 03:52 AM

I found the Germanwords to Edelweiss:

Edelweiß, Edelweiß,
Du grüßt mich jeden Morgen,
Sehe ich dich, Freue ich mich,
Und vergeß meine Sorgen.
Schmücke das Heimatland, Schön und weiß,
Blühest wie die Sterne.
Edelweiß, Edelweiß,
Ach, ich hab dich so gerne.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 03:25 PM

Genie, as far as I know, "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" was specially written for the film Cabaret. I thought it very fitting for its purpose (and it has now been adopted by neo-Nazis, it seems, going by a slightly scary episode I witnessed in a Berlin underground train some years back). Admittedly, the style is somewhat similar to "Lorelei" but the tune isn't, to my ears.

Subject: RE: German songs for singaround
From: Genie
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 08:00 AM

You're right, Susanne. As is pointed out in another thread, TBTM incorporates some musical phrases from "Die Lorelei," but it is certainly not the same tune.

Someone had told me that "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" had been "the theme song of Hitler Youth," but that was one of those 'urban legends." Yes, it was composed for the musical "Cabaret."   

I still would't feel good about singing it, even though I know it's just a "show tune," because it does have Nazi associations.