Origin: He, ho, spann den Wagen an (English canon)

25 Apr 99 - 06:22 AM (#73270)
Subject: Find English origin to German canon
From: Wolfgang

'He, ho, spann den Wagen an' is a fairly well known German canon. In recent years it often has been sung to new lyrics in the German ecological movement. It is old, however, 19. century say the liederbooks. In one of them, a note says that it comes from an older English song or canon. I'd like to know which song that might be.
If you think you could help, here are the complete lyrics (one verse, four lines) and the tune.

Wolfgang

Link should look like this, Wolfgang. don't forget the http://
<a href=http://www.studiant.be/muziek/wagen.htm>Click here</a>
-Joe Offer-

---

25 Apr 99 - 06:25 AM (#73271)
Subject: RE: Find English origin to German canon
From: Wolfgang

next try

---

25 Apr 99 - 06:32 PM (#73342)
Subject: RE: Find English origin to German canon
From: MMario

The tune (and the cadence of the lyrics ) certainly put me in mind of "Hey Ho, Nobody home":

Hey ho nobody home
Meat nor drink nor money have I none
Still I will be merry

the only music I can find for "Hey HO" the first line is the same as your canon, and the second line (of the copy I found) is NOT the version I have always sung. Yours is closer to what I sing....

I don't know the history of it, however...

MMario

---

28 Apr 99 - 09:13 AM (#73986)
Subject: RE: Find English origin to German canon
From: Wolfgang

MMario, thanks, that sound like a likely candidate. There are so many different lyrics to that German canon that it is no wonder if a certain set of lyrics isn't a translation.
Joe and Bruce, thanks too, I know now what was wrong though I still don't know how that came to be wrong, since I just copy&pasted the address from somewhere. At least, next time that happens, I'll know what to do.

Wolfgang

---