EISGEKÜHLTER BOMMERLUNDER by DIE TOTEN HOSEN

GERMAN POP LYRICS

This is a German drinking song. Bommerlunder is a brand of schnapps, popular in Northern Germany. The basic idea is that you start slow and gradually the song speeds up. The version above is by German punk band Die Toten Hosen, recorded in 1983.

EISGEKÜHLTER BOMMERLUNDER Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder, Bommerlunder eisgekühlt Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder, Bommerlunder eisgekühlt Und dazu: Ein belegtes Brot mit Schinken - Schinken! Ein belegtes Brot mit Ei - Ei! Das sind zwei belegte Brote, eins mit Schinken uns eins mit Ei

ICE-COLD BOMMERLUNDER Ice-cold Bommerlunder, Bommerlunder ice-cold Ice-cold Bommerlunder, Bommerlunder ice-cold And with it: A sandwich with ham - ham! A sandwich with egg - egg! They are two sandwiches, one with ham and one with egg

SCHWESTERLEIN by TINE KINDERMANN

GERMAN POP LYRICS

If you are interested in German folk music it is surprisingly difficult to find good recording of the songs. On one hand you have stiff renditions by classical singers, and on the other you have ultra-commercial Schlager versions.

Tine Kindermann tried an alternative approach on her 2008 album “Schamlos schön” (“Shamelessly Beautiful”), which combines her gentle voice with more contemporary sounding arrangements.

On her version of “Schwesterlein” she duets with Lorin Sklamberg. The guitarist is Marc Ribot who has played with Tom Waits. Kindermann has also performed a live version of this song with Iggy Pop.

SCHWESTERLEIN Schwesterlein, Schwesterlein, Wann geh´n wir nach Haus? „Früh wenn die Hahnen krähn, Woll´n wir nach Hause geh´n, Brüderlein, Brüderlein, Dann geh´n wir nach Haus.“ Schwesterlein, Schwesterlein, Wann geh’n wir nach Haus? „Früh wenn der Tag anbricht, Eh‘ endet die Freude nicht, Brüderlein, Brüderlein, Der fröhliche Braus.“ Schwesterlein, Schwesterlein, Wohl ist es Zeit? „Mein Liebster tanzt mit mir. Geh‘ ich, tanzt er mit ihr. Brüderlein, Brüderlein, Lass du mich heut‘.“ Schwesterlein, Schwesterlein, Du bist ja so blass? „Das ist der Morgenschein Auf meinen Wängelein, Brüderlein, Brüderlein, Die vom Taue nass.“ Schwesterlein, Schwesterlein, Du wankest so matt? „Suche die Kammertür, Suche mein Bettchen mir, Brüderlein, es wird fein Unter’m Rasen sein.“

DEAR SISTER Dear sister, dear sister When are we going home? “Early, when the cock crows We´ll want to go home Dear brother, dear brother Then we’ll go home.” Dear sister, dear sister When are we going home? “Early, when the day breaks The delight won’t end before Dear brother, dear brother The merry life.” Dear sister, dear sister Well, is it time? “My sweetheart is dancing with me If I go, he will dance with her Dear brother, dear brother Leave me today.” Dear sister, dear sister Why are you so pale? “That is the morning light On my cheeks Dear brother, dear brother Wet from the dew.” Dear sister, dear sister Why are you stumbling so dizzily? “Look for the chamber door Look for my little bed Dear brother, it will be fine To lie beneath the grass.”

WAS WOLLEN WIR TRINKEN by BOTS

GERMAN POP LYRICS: From France to Germany via the Netherlands

Bots is a Dutch folk-rock band. In 1976 they wrote the song “Zeven Dagen Lang” which was based on the Breton folk song “Son ar Chistr” popularised by Alan Stivell. Sadly the references to cider in the original version were lost in translation!

In 1980 Bots recorded “Aufstehen”, a German language album, which included a German version of this song. The album was a success and “Sieben Tage lang” has become a popular sing-a-long in pubs and folk sessions, though it is generally known as “Was wollen wir trinken” these days.

In 1998 the German group Scooter had a European hit with “How Much Is The Fish?” which samples this song.

WAS WOLLEN WIR TRINKEN Was wollen wir trinken, sieben Tage lang? Was wollen wir trinken, so ein Durst? Es wird genug für alle sein Wir trinken zusammen, roll’ das Fass mal rein Wir trinken zusammen, nicht allein Dann wollen wir schaffen, sieben Tage lang Dann wollen wir schaffen, komm fass’ an Und das wird keine Plackerei Wir schaffen zusammen, sieben Tage lang Wir schaffen zusammen, nicht allein Jetzt müssen wir streiten, keiner weiß wie lang Ja, für ein Leben ohne Zwang Dann kriegt der Frust uns nicht mehr klein Wir halten zusammen, keiner kämpft allein Wir gehen zusammen, nicht allein

WHAT DO WE WANT TO DRINK What do we want to drink, seven days long? What do we want to drink, such a thirst? There will be enough for everyone We’ll drink together, roll the barrel in here We’ll drink together, not alone Then we want to work, seven days long Then we want to work, come give a hand And it won’t be drudgery We’ll work together, seven days long We’ll work together, not alone Now we have to fight, who knows for how long Yes, for a life without bondage Then frustration will never make us small We’ll keep together, no one fights alone We’ll go together, not alone

“Schaffen” (in the second verse) usually means to manage to do something, but it can also mean to work, especially in southern Germany. In the context of the song work seems to make more sense.
The band clearly sing “streiten” (to fight) in the third verse, but I have heard another version where people sing “streiken” (to strike).

WENN ALLE BRÜNNLEIN FLIESSEN

GERMAN POP LYRICS

This is a German folk song which dates back to the sixteenth century. Here it is performed by the group Bube Dame König (Jack Queen King).

WENN ALLE BRÜNNLEIN FLIESSEN Wenn alle Brünnlein fließen So muss man trinken Wenn ich mein' Schatz nicht rufen darf Tu ich ihm winken Wenn ich mein' Schatz nicht rufen darf Ju ja, rufen darf Tu ich ihm winken Ja, winken mit den Äugelein Und treten auf den Fuß 's ist eine in der Stube drin Die meine werden muss 's ist eine in der Stube drin Ju ja, Stube drin Die meine werden muss Warum sollt sie's nicht werden? Ich hab' sie ja so gern Sie hat zwei blaue Äugelein Die leuchten wie zwei Stern' Sie hat zwei blaue Äugelein Ju ja, Äugelein Die leuchten wie zwei Stern' Sie hat zwei rote Wängelein Sind röter als der Wein Ein solches Mädchen findest du nicht Wohl unterm Sonnenschein Ein solches Mädchen findest du nicht Ju ja, findest du nicht Wohl unterm Sonnenschein ERSTE STROPHE WIEDERHOLEN

WHEN ALL THE FOUNTAINS ARE FLOWING When all the fountains are flowing A man must drink If I’m not allowed to call my darling Ooh, I'll wave at her If I’m not allowed to call my darling Ju ja, (not) allowed to call Ooh, I'll wave at her Yes, a little wink of the eye And a little tread on the foot There’s (some)one in the parlour Who must become mine There’s (some)one in the parlour Ju ja, (in the) parlour Who must become mine Why shouldn't she become mine? I’m so fond of her She has two little blue eyes That shine like two stars She has two little blue eyes Ju ja, little eyes That shine like two stars She has two little red cheeks They are redder than the wine Such a girl you won't find Anywhere under the sunshine Such a girl you won't find Ju ja, you won’t find Anywhere under the sunshine REPEAT FIRST VERSE

GERMAN GRAMMER: DIMINUTIVES.

When you start learning German one of the first crazy things to confront you is “Das Mädchen” – how can a girl be neuter rather than feminine?! The reason is that words ending with –chen or –lein are diminutives. These are always neuter and also they are the same in the plural.

Das Mädchen – The girl / Die Mädchen – The girls

Normally the diminutives are applied to nouns (das Mädchen is literally a little maid).

Das Brot – The bread / Das Brötchen – The bread roll
Der Tisch – The table / Das Tischlein – The little table

As in Spanish the meaning of diminutive can be to indicate affection or cuteness rather than literal smallness. However, Germans tend not to use them as much as Spaniards!
The song contains a lot of diminutives and I have tried to translate them as best I can.

THE SCHNITZELBANK SONG

GERMAN POP LYRICS

Over Christmas I was listening to Bob Dylan’s seasonal album, a record which tends to divide critical opinion. My favourite track is “Must Be Santa” (see below), which seems to be at least partly inspired by the Schnitzelbank song. This is a traditional drinking song and some German breweries have a handy poster to help you keep up with the lyrics.

Each verse becomes longer as more and more items are added to the list, a bit like the English carol “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”. For this reason I have only written out the first three verses in full! The song is also popular with children, particularly in the USA where it is sometimes used to help teach German. There are many versions with alternate lyrics but I think the ones below are the most traditional.

I took the lyrics and translation from this page: http://www.bethsnotesplus.com/2017/01/schnitzelbank.html, but as usual I have made some alterations and improvements.

SCHNITZELBANK 1. Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank? Ja das ist ein Schnitzelbank. Oh du schöne Schnitzelbank, oh du schöne Schnitzelbank. 2. Ist das nicht ein kurz und lang? Ja das ist ein kurz und lang. Ist das nicht ein hin und her? Ja das ist ein hin und her. Hin und her, kurz und lang, Oh du schöne Schnitzelbank, oh du schöne Schnitzelbank. 3. Ist das nicht ein kreuz und quer? Ja das ist ein kreuz und quer. Ist das nicht ein Schiessgewehr? Ja das ist ein Schiessgewehr. Schiessgewehr, kreuz und quer, hin und her, kurz und lang, Oh du schöne Schnitzelbank, oh du schöne Schnitzelbank. 4. …Wagenrad …krumm und grad 5. …grosses Glass …Ochsenblas 6. …Haufen Mist …Schnickelfritz 7. …dicke Frau …fette Sau 8. …langer Mann …Tannenbaum 9. …Hochzeitsring ….gefährliches Ding

CARVING BENCH 1. Isn't that a carving bench? Yes, it is a carving bench Oh you wonderful carving bench Oh you wonderful carving bench 2. Isn't that short and long? Yes, it is short and long Isn't that back and forth? Yes, it is back and forth Back and forth, short and long Oh you wonderful carving bench Oh you wonderful carving bench 3. Isn't that criss and cross? Yes, it is criss and cross Isn't that a shooting gun? Yes, it is a shooting gun Shooting gun, criss and cross Back and forth, short and long Oh you wonderful carving bench Oh you wonderful carving bench 4. …wagon wheel …bent and straight 5. …big glass …oxen bladder 6. …pile of dung …naughty boy 7. …stout woman …fat sow 8. …tall man …Christmas tree 9. …wedding ring ….dangerous thing