Ein Heller und ein Batzen
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Ein_Heller_und_ein_Batzen_%28Das_neue_Soldaten-Liederbuch_1938%29.jpg/220px-Ein_Heller_und_ein_Batzen_%28Das_neue_Soldaten-Liederbuch_1938%29.jpg)
"Ein Heller und ein Batzen" is a German folksong. Written by in 1830 as a drinking song, it later became a popular marching song in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War.[1][2]
Controversy[]
"Ein Heller und ein Batzen", also known as “Heidi, heido, heida”,[citation needed] was a popular marching song during WWII among the Wehrmacht troops invading Europe,[citation needed] which led to it entering popular recognition as a Nazi symbol.[citation needed] Even so, it is not recognized as such formally and therefore not outlawed per Article 86a of the German Criminal Code that prohibits the dissemination of signs of unconstitutional organizations.[citation needed]
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 ripped, my boots have come apart
|
Fourth verse | |
Und gäb's kein Landstraß nirgends, 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 |
Modern interpretations[]
German Schlager singer Heino included a version of this song on his 1968 album .
German heavy metal band Accept incorporated this song into "Fast as a Shark" in their 1982 album Restless and Wild.
In film and television[]
- Featured in Season 1 Episode 4 of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels
References[]
- ^ Frank Trommler, The Many Faces of Germany (in German), p. 159
- ^ Georg Nagel. "Ein Heller und Ein Batzen" (in German). Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- Volkslied
- German military marches
- 1830s songs