The Year 1926: Part 3 (Germany)
This comic foxtrot was one of the biggest international hits of 1926. It was translated into 17 languages, with the English version being entitled “Where is my Maier?”. Perhaps the best known recording of the German original was made by Claire Waldoff, who was at the peak of her success as a cabaret singer at this time. Waldoff was known for confronting female stereotypes by smoking and swearing onstage while wearing men’s clothes. She was a lesbian and in 1920s Berlin it was possible for artists like her to be relatively open about their queerness.
Waldoff sometimes performed in Berlin with the much younger Marlene Dietrich. She had recorded Friedrich Hollaender’s “Jonny” in 1923, and the song later became strongly associated with Dietrich. However, the original recording was made by Blandine Ebinger, then Hollaender’s wife, in 1920.
More recently this song has been revived by Max Raabe.
WAS MACHT DER MAIER AM HIMALAYA? Alle weinen um den einen, Um Professor Friedrich Wilhelm Mayer. Alle fragen, alle klagen Denn der Schmerz um Mayer, Der ist ungeheuer. Morgen fährt er als Gelehrter Nach dem höchsten Punkt des Himalaya Welch ein Schreck! Er geht uns weg Und jeder fragt im Publikum 'warum?' [Refrain:] Was macht der Mayer am Himalaya? Wie kommt der Mayer, der kleine Mayer, Auf den großen Himalaya? Rauf - ja, das kunnt' er. Ich frag' mich aber: Wie kommt er runter? Ich hab' so Angst um den Mayer. Er macht 'en Rutsch und ist futsch! Langsam krochen viele Wochen, Keine Kunde kam von unserm Mayer. Manche Nichte schrieb Gedichte. Wen erwärmt der Maier jetzt mit seinem Feuer? Auch die Tanten, die ihn kannten, Zupften nachts elegisch auf der Leier: "Mayer, Mayer, komm noch heuer!" Eine fragt die and're ganz verzagt: [Refrain] Glockenklänge, Volksgedränge - Mayer kam zurück vom Himalaya! Herzen klopften, Nasen tropften,30 Vom Balkon die Tanten winkten mit dem Schleier. Aber plötzlich, wie entsetzlich: Mayer hat ein Weib, ein Ungeheuer Mit enormen Körperformen! Jeder schreit: "Der Mayer tut mir leid!" [Refrain] |
WHAT IS MAIER DOING IN THE HIMALAYAS? Everyone is crying for the one For Professor Friedrich Wilhelm Maier Everyone's asking, everyone's lamenting Because the pain of Mayer Is monstrous Tomorrow he's leaving as an academic For the highest point of the Himalayas What a shock! He's leaving us And everyone in the audience is asking why? [Chorus:] What is Maier doing in the Himalayas? How come Maier, little Maier Went up the great Himalayas? Up - yes, he could But I ask myself: How can he get down? I'm so scared for Maier One slip and he's gone! Many weeks crept slowly by No news came from our Mayer Many nieces wrote poems Who is Maier warming up by his fire now? Even the aunts who knew him Plucked elegiacally on their lyres at night: "Maier, Maier, come back this year!" One asks the other so despondently: [Chorus] Bells ringing, a crowd of people crushed together Maier has come back from the Himalayas! Hearts pounding, noses dripping On the balcony the aunts were waving their veils But suddenly, how terrible: Mayer has a woman, a monster With an enormous figure! Everybody cries out: "I'm sorry for Maier!" [Chorus] |