|
27 Oct 06 - 11:20 PM (#1870498) Subject: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 12:31 AM (#1870549) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: GUEST,Cookieless Genie 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. |
|
28 Oct 06 - 01:39 AM (#1870577) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 01:58 AM (#1870582) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: eddie1 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 02:32 AM (#1870594) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 03:04 AM (#1870598) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: eddie1 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 03:51 AM (#1870605) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Genie 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. |
|
28 Oct 06 - 05:27 AM (#1870630) Subject: Lyr Add: IM SCHWARZEN WALFISCH ZU ASKALON (German) From: Ernest 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 05:31 AM (#1870632) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: alanabit 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. |
|
28 Oct 06 - 05:46 AM (#1870639) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Leadfingers 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 - - - - |
|
28 Oct 06 - 11:48 AM (#1870788) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Wolfgang 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 10:34 PM (#1871038) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
28 Oct 06 - 10:37 PM (#1871041) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa I suppose I could try the "German Clockwinder", for a laugh! |
|
28 Oct 06 - 11:07 PM (#1871064) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Susanne (skw) 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. |
|
28 Oct 06 - 11:52 PM (#1871082) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Joe_F Hobellied Lili Marleen Schnitzelbank Treue Husar Treue Liebe Weisst du, wieviel Sterne stehen |
|
29 Oct 06 - 02:19 AM (#1871149) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: alanabit ...ob du'n Mädel hast oder keins! Still in this age, what is wrong with a bisexual version? Auf der Reeperbahn. |
|
29 Oct 06 - 10:09 AM (#1871338) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Wolfgang or Auf der Autobahn nachts um halb eins Wolfgang |
|
29 Oct 06 - 10:21 AM (#1871352) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: alanabit Brilliant! |
|
30 Oct 06 - 10:18 AM (#1872197) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: GUEST,pattyClink 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. |
|
30 Oct 06 - 10:48 PM (#1872698) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Keef 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 |
|
31 Oct 06 - 12:03 AM (#1872726) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Genie 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. |
|
31 Oct 06 - 01:39 AM (#1872749) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: alanabit I have met very few Germans, who know "The Sound of Music". |
|
31 Oct 06 - 10:21 AM (#1872984) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Wolfgang 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 |
|
31 Oct 06 - 03:25 PM (#1873248) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
31 Oct 06 - 03:41 PM (#1873261) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring What about "Freut euch des Lebens?" Or "Es zogen drei Burschen", maybe. |
|
31 Oct 06 - 05:20 PM (#1873333) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Susanne (skw) 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! |
|
31 Oct 06 - 06:56 PM (#1873398) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: GUEST,Adrianel 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. |
|
31 Oct 06 - 07:07 PM (#1873410) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: GUEST,Adrianel 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. |
|
31 Oct 06 - 07:12 PM (#1873413) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Artful Codger 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. |
|
31 Oct 06 - 07:54 PM (#1873445) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Richard Atkins 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 !! |
|
31 Oct 06 - 09:00 PM (#1873489) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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... |
|
01 Nov 06 - 02:14 AM (#1873606) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: alanabit There was quite a good thread about German folk songs a while back, Shiamsa, with some very interesting contributions from our German contingent. |
|
01 Nov 06 - 06:26 PM (#1874237) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa Thanks for the tip, Alanabit, I've downloaded the threads for a read. So many songs, so little time! Don |
|
04 Nov 06 - 09:27 PM (#1876427) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Richard Atkins 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 ! |
|
04 Nov 06 - 10:04 PM (#1876439) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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? |
|
06 Nov 06 - 11:58 AM (#1877493) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Richard Atkins 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 |
|
06 Nov 06 - 02:49 PM (#1877642) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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 |
|
06 Nov 06 - 08:46 PM (#1877916) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Richard Atkins Don thanks for that. I would like to know! Good song and tune just hope it hasnt been lost. |
|
07 Nov 06 - 02:43 AM (#1878045) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Wilfried Schaum 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. |
|
09 Nov 06 - 01:57 PM (#1880395) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Wolfgang 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 |
|
09 Nov 06 - 02:23 PM (#1880420) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Shiamsa 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. |
|
11 Dec 08 - 03:23 AM (#2512329) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Genie 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? |
|
11 Dec 08 - 03:52 AM (#2512348) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround: Edelweiss From: Genie 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. |
|
13 Dec 08 - 03:25 PM (#2514476) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Susanne (skw) 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. |
|
22 Apr 11 - 08:00 AM (#3140257) Subject: RE: German songs for singaround From: Genie 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. |