German Song project

[Patricia Hammond]

I just wanted to open up a topic very close to my heart: that of researching "other sides" and also of discovering what lies beneath, in more ways than one. 

 

My musical colleague and I made a discovery a year ago and I thought I'd share it. We were incredibly lucky. I hasten to say that this is not promotional in any way; it is simply the only way I can tell a story that needs not only to be told, but seen and heard and translated. 

 

I'm wondering how many other people have gone to "the other side" and made similar discoveries? 

 

I have to say here that in doing this project it was NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to find a German song about war. It took ages and many blind alleys (speaking of written music rather than recordings. Anyone can copy a recording!!) They just don't publicise such things. 

 

 

 

 

[mva]

Very interesting & very mooving ! I had a look at your web site, but could not find the words of this German song. Is it possible to have them ?

Thank you so much, martine from Picardy (where the roses & Colinette are !)

Edited 16 September , 2017 by mva
mistake corrected

[The Prussian]

Hello!

I very sad song that goes right into the heart.

Here are the german lyrics:

 

Bald, allzubalde

Einsam im Walde blüht wohl ein Blümlein rot, bald,
allzubald bin ich tot, bald, allzubalde.

Fleugt wo ein Stückchen Blei, nimmt mir mein Sorgen.
Mir ist halt einerlei: heut oder morgen.

Weit, wo das Tal hinab graben drei Spaten,
graben ein Kühles Grab für ein Soldaten.

Drüben im Dämmerschein,
allwo im Städtchen weint wo im Kämmerlein irgendein Mädchen.

Blüht wohl ein Blümlein rot einsam im Walde,
balde, gar bald bin ich tot, bald, allzubalde.

 

Soon, too balde 

 Alone in the forest blooms probably a little flower red, soon, 

too soon I’m dead soon, too balde. 

 

Shall fly where a piece of lead, I take my worries. 

Mir is just all the same: today or tomorrow. 

 

Far, where down the valley excavated three spades, 

dig a grave for a Cool soldiers. 

 

Over in the twilight, 

allwo in the town where crying in the closet any girl. 

 

Flowers probably a red little flowers solitary in the forest, 

balde, very soon I’ll be dead soon, too balde.

Edited 16 September , 2017 by The Prussian

[mva]

merci, le Prussien - thanks a lot, besten Dank ! martine

[The Prussian]

De rien, Martine!

[trajan]

I don't know of any WW1 ones, but for WW2 - try Brecht, Und was bekam des Soldaten Weib? (1942), taught to me by a former (German) girlfriend's mother, who had lost so many relatives in WW1 and 2...

[AOK4]

There are quite a few German songs. Some have made it into the repertoire of some choirs here in Flanders during the centenary.

 

Jan

[thetrenchrat22]

Very moving and interesting that the the German war graves staff, where able to find the composer grave and identify him after digging up the remains.