Civic song (armor)

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The Bürgerlied (also Ob wir red, yellow collar or Königsberg folk song ) is a folk song written in 1845 by Adalbert Harnisch (1815–1889) . Originally written for the citizens' association of the West Prussian city ​​of Elbing , it quickly developed into a popular song, first in the national liberal and later in the labor movement . In the second half of the 20th century it was taken up again by German folk musicians such as Hannes Wader and became known to a wide audience.

history

background

During the pre- March period , political associations were formed in several German cities that were committed to German nationalism and civil libertarian goals and which regularly debated political issues. Such a citizens' association was also established in the city of Elbing in 1845 , to which the then postal secretary Adalbert Harnisch also belonged. In May 1845 he wrote a new text to the melody of " Prinz Eugen, the noble knight ", which expressed the vision of the liberal-minded bourgeoisie of a united German state. The song was published in 1845 in Singsang einer Writer , a volume of poetry written by Harnisch under the pseudonym Hans Albus.

Probably on June 8 1845 song was on a solid friend of civil societies in Pillau , which also citizens club Elbing participated, singing, as well as on a well-received "People's Assembly" of political opponents in Hooper Höfchen (now defunct) in Konigsberg , from from where it spread throughout Germany. The German Folk Song Book , which appeared in Mannheim in 1847 , contained the song under the name "Königsberger Volkslied". Even during the March Revolution of 1848/49, leaflets with the lyrics were distributed. In 1859, Harnisch finally published the song again in a collection of poems, this time under his own name.

As a result of the rapid spread of the song, however, the authorship was incorrectly attributed. The Republican Song Book (1848) by Hermann Rollet names the Saxon pastor Leberecht Uhlich as the author of the text. He was also credited with a rewording of the song made in 1850.

After the March Revolution

With the failure of the liberal revolutionaries of 1848/49, their decline as the leading force of the ideological opposition began. At the same time, a new political force emerged with the labor movement, which raised the demand for social change. The citizens' song also served in a modified form as an expression of their convictions.

In the 20th century, the song lost its popularity. From 1962, however, Wolfgang Steinitz 's work German songs of a democratic character from six centuries helped him to gain new fame. With the folk movement in German music, it then found its way into German popular music . For example, the group Zupfgeigenhansel and the songwriters Peter Rohland and Hannes Wader recorded versions of the song; there were also numerous new interpretations in German dialects , for example by the Höhner . In the West German critical-political movement, too, the text was rewritten, for example by Walter Mossmann or Manfred Jaspers . In the GDR , the October Club sang a version with a text by Gerd Kern and Jack Mitchell .

text

The wording in the version published by Harnisch in 1845:

Whether we
wear red or yellow collars, hats or helmets,
boots or shoes;
Or whether we sew skirts
and twist the threads into shoes - that
doesn't matter.

Whether we can decree,
Or must smear bows
Without rest and tranquility;
Whether we just Collegia read,
or whether we bind broom -
This does nothing.

Whether we proudly ride on horses,
Whether on foot we stride
toward our goal;
Whether we are adorned with
crosses at the front, or crosses pressed at the back - that
doesn't matter.

But whether we build new things,
Or just digest the old
like the grass the cow -
Whether we create something for the world,
Or just gaze at the world -
That does something to it.

Whether in the head there is some gruel
And in the heart light and heat,
That it burns in an instant;
Or, whether we crouch peacefully,
And ruin and tarnish - that
does something.

Whether we work, where it
counts, busily big, noble, strong
Always grabbing;
Or whether we think sleepily:
God will give it in our sleep - that
does something.

So you citizens, so you brothers,
all members of a covenant,
Whatever everyone
does - All who sang this song
As the old as the young -
we do then.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Historisch-Kritisches Liederlexikon , accessed on July 28, 2009.
  2. ↑ Quoted from the Historisch-Kritischen Liederlexikon