The "Westerwaldlied" (transl. "Westerwald Song") is a German folk song, written by Willi Münker in 1932, set to music by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1935, and published in 1937. An ode to the Westerwald region of Western Germany, it has been performed by the German military for many decades.[citation needed]
History
The song's lyrics were written by Willi Münker in November 1932, before Hitler's rise to power. It was set to music by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1935, reportedly based on an old folk song. It was published and recorded for the first time in 1937. It is an ode to the Westerwald region of Western Germany. It was sung by the German military during World War II.[1][2]
The song for many decades was considered innocuous, enough to be performed by the contemporary West German military.[3][4][5] However, in recent years the performance of "Westerwaldlied" has become somewhat contentious and controversial in Germany due to its association with the Nazi era,[6][1] with the German military reportedly ceasing performances of the song because of it in 2017.[1][7][8][9] Defenders of the song maintain that it is an apolitical folk song with an established history of apolitical, innocuous usage.[1]
Usage elsewhere
A Spanish-language song based on the "Westerwaldlied"'s melody as composed by Neuhäuser is sung by the Chilean Army, where it is known as "Himno de la Sección".[10] It is also the inspiration for the South Korean patriotic song "Our Nation Forever", used by the South Korean military.[11] It appears in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1973 World on a Wire.
Lyrics
German
English translation
First verse
Heute wollen wir marschier'n
Einen neuen Marsch probier'n
𝄆 In dem schönen Westerwald
Ja da pfeift der Wind so kalt 𝄇
Today we want to march
To try out a new march
𝄆 In the lovely Westerwald
Yes, there the wind whistles so cold 𝄇
Chorus
Oh, Du schöner Westerwald
(Eukalyptusbonbon) Über Deine Höhen pfeift der Wind so kalt Jedoch der kleinste Sonnenschein Dringt tief ins Herz hinein
Oh, you lovely Westerwald
(Eukalyptusbonbon) Over your heights the wind whistles so cold However, the slightest sunshine Thrusts deep into the heart
Second verse
Und die Gretel und der Hans
Geh'n am Sonntag gern zum Tanz
Weil das Tanzen Freude macht
Und das Herz im Leibe lacht
Wiederhole Refrain
And Gretel and Hans
Gladly go dancing on Sunday
Because dancing makes joy
And the heart in the body laughs
Repeat chorus
Third verse
Ist das Tanzen dann vorbei
Gibt es meistens Keilerei
Und dem Bursch, den das nicht freut,
sagt man nach, er hat kein' Schneid
Wiederhole Refrain
When the dancing is over
There is mostly fighting
And the lad whom that does not please
Is accused of having no grit
Repeat chorus
Fourth verse
Oh, Du schöner Westerwald
Bist ja weit und breit bekannt
Echte Menschen der Natur
Von Falschheit keine Spur
Wiederhole Refrain
Oh, you lovely Westerwald
Are known far and wide
True people of nature
Of falsehood no trace