Es, es, es und es
18th century song from Hesse.
"It's one of the best-known journeyman songs that was sung by traveling boys in the 19th century. Today it's sung primarily in folk and hiking circles and by members of the few remaining Schachts (associations of building tradesmen), occasionally also in schools and by choirs." -German Wikipedia
Es, es, es und es
It, It, It and It
Folk Song
Folk Song
(German)
(English)
1 Es, es, es und es
es ist ein harter Schluß
weil, weil, weil und weil,
weil ich aus Frankfurt muß!
Darum schlag ich Frankfurt aus dem Sinn
und wende mich, Gott weiß wohin.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
2 Er, er, er und er,
Herr Meister, leb er wohl!
Er, er, er und er,
Herr Meister, leb er wohl!
Ich sag's ihm grad frei ins Gesicht,
Seine Arbeit, die gefällt mir nicht.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
3 Sie, sie, sie und sie,
Frau Meistrin leb sie wohl!
Sie, sie, sie und sie,
Frau Meistrin leb sie wohl!
Ich sag ihr grad frei ins Gesicht,
Ihr Speck und Kraut, das schmeckt mir nicht
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
4 Sie, sie, sie und sie,
Jungfer Köchin, leb sie wohl!
Hätt sie das Essen gut angericht',
Wärs besser gewes'n, schaden könnts auch nicht.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
5 Er, er, er und er,
Herr Vater*, leb er wohl!
Hätt er die Kreide nicht doppelt geschrieb'n,
So wär ich noch länger dageblieb'n.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
6 Ihr, ihr, ihr und ihr,
Ihr Jungfern lebet wohl!
Ich wünsche euch zu guter Letzt
Einen Andern, der meine Stell ersetzt.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
7 Ihr, ihr, ihr und ihr,
Ihr Brüder,** lebet wohl!
Hab ich euch was zu Leid getan,
So bitt ich um Verzeihung an.
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
1. It, it, it and it,
It is a hard ending
Because, because, because, and because,
Because I must leave Frankfurt!
That's why I put Frankfurt out of my mind
And I turn to God knows where.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
2. Him, him, him and him,
Master, farewell!
Him, him, him and him,
Master, farewell!
I'm just telling him straight to his face,
I don't like his work.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
3. Her, her, her and her,
Mistress, farewell!
Her, her, her and her,
Mistress, farewell!
I'm just telling her straight to her face,
I don't like her bacon and cabbage.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
4. Her, her, her and her,
Maid & cook, farewell!
If she had prepared the food well,
If it had been better, it wouldn't've hurt.
I want to try my luck
Marching.
5. He, he, he, and he,
Father*, farewell!
Had he not swindled me,
Then I would have stayed there longer.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
6. You, you, you and you,
Maidens, farewell!
I wish for you, last but not least,
Someone else to replace me.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
7. You, you, you and you,
You brothers**, farewell
If I've done you any harm,
I beg your pardon.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
Notes
*Innkeeper
**Colleagues
Alternate 5th verse:
5. Er, er, er und er,
Herr Wirt, nun leb er wohl!
Hätt er die Kreid nicht doppelt geschrieben,
Wär ich noch länger dageblieben
Ich will mein Glück probieren,
Marschieren.
English Translation:
5. He, he, he, and he,
Mister Innkeeper, farewell!
Had he not swindled me,
Then I would have stayed there longer.
I want to try my luck,
Marching.
For those of you who know German, there's a long article about this song in German in Populäre und traditionelle Lieder in which it says that "…the earliest this song has been traced so far can be found in a handwritten booklet that a certain Johann Jacob Hebel created in 1753…."
The melody was first published in Ludwig Erk's "Die deutschen Volkslieder mit ihren Singweisen" (German Folk Songs with Their Singing Tunes) in 1838 (Edition D). For those who don't know German, I recommend putting it in an online translator to get an idea of the interesting notes about it.
In "The Book of German Songs: From the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century", translated and edited by H. W. Dulcken (1832-1894) you'll find a singable rhyming translation of the song. Here it is…
Farewell Song of a Journeyman
It, it, it and it,
It is a heavy blow,
That, that, that and that,
From Frankfurt I must go;
So I'll forget this Frankfurt rare,
And turn to wander, Heaven knows where;
I go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
Thou, thou, thou and thou,
Good master, fare thee well;
Now freely to your face I'll say,
Your work don't please me anyway;
I'll go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
You, you, you and you,
Good mistress, fare you well;
Now to your face I'll tell you free,
Your pork and cabbage won't suit me;
I'll go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
You, you, you and you,
Dame Cookee, fare you well;
If better you had known your trade,
Perchance with you I might have stayed;
I'll go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
Ye, ye, ye and ye,
Fair maidens, fare ye well;
My parting wish for you is still
That one may come my place to fill;
I'll go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
You, you, you and you,
Good comrades, all farewell;
If I have wronged you any way,
I would for your forgiveness pray;
I'll go to seek my fortune
A-marchin'.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Lisa and Monique.
Vielen Dank
