Ein Heller und ein Batzen
Ein Heller und ein Batzen is a German folksong. Written by Albert von Schlippenbach in 1830 as a drinking song, it later became a popular marching song in Wehrmacht during WWII.[1][2]
German heavy metal band Accept used it as the intro for their song Fast as a Shark.
Misinterpretations in Western Europe
Ein Heller und ein Batzen was frequently sung by the German troops occupying Europe during the Second World War, to the extent that the populations of German occupied countries (notably in France and Poland), designated it under the name “Heidi, heido, heida” (based on the refrain) and mistakenly equated it with National Socialism and Nazism, despite its simple, apolitical nature.
Even today ignorance of German culture and language has led to a variety of misinterpretations of the piece, which often sparks controversy when played outside Germany.
This was the case when the German heavy metal band Accept incorporated the melody in the song Fast as a Shark in their fourth album Restless and Wild, and will be the subject of a real trial of intention of a part of the French specialized music press.
The melody was also taken up in 2005 by the German singer Heino in his album Das Beste Zum Jubiläum.
This song does not fall under Article 86a of the German Criminal Code, which prohibits the dissemination of signs of unconstitutional organizations, as the case of Horst-Wessel-Lied. The Luftwaffenmusikkorps 4 der Bundeswehr Hamburg, music of the Luftwaffe (Air Force of the Bundeswehr), based in Hamburg, has even included it in its repertoire.
Lyrics
German | English translation |
---|---|
First verse | |
Ein Heller und ein Batzen, die waren beide mein |
A Heller (penny) and a Batzen (dime), they were both mine |
Chorus | |
Heidi, heido, heida,
heidi, heido, heida, heidi, heido, heida, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha |
Heidi, heido, heida,
heidi, heido, heida, heidi, heido, heida, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha |
Second verse | |
Die Wirtsleut und die Mädel, die rufen beid: Oh weh! |
The barkeepers and the girls, both shout: Oh no! |
Third verse | |
Meine Strümpfe sind zerrissen, meine Stiefel sind entzwei |
My socks are torn, my boots have come apart
|
Fourth verse | |
Und gäb's kein Landstraß nirgend, da säß ich still zu Haus |
And were there no country roads, I'd be sitting quietly at home |
Fifth verse | |
War das 'ne große Freude, als ihn der Herrgott schuf |
Wasn't it a great joy when the Lord God created him |
Reference
- ↑ Frank Trommler, The Many Faces of Germany (in German), p. 159
- ↑ Georg Nagel. "Ein Heller und Ein Batzen" (in German). Retrieved 23 April 2017.