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 the Second World War.[1][2]

Ein Heller und ein Batzen in Das neue Soldaten-Liederbuch. Die bekanntesten und meistgesungenen Lieder unserer Wehrmacht. Mainz 1938

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.

The 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
GermanEnglish translation
First verse

Ein Heller und ein Batzen, die waren beide mein
Der Heller ward zu Wasser, der Batzen ward zu Wein

A Heller (penny) and a Batzen (dime), they were both mine
The Heller went for water, the Batzen went for wine

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!
Die Wirtsleut, wenn ich komme, die Mädel, wenn ich geh

Wiederhole Refrain

The barkeepers and the girls, both shout: Oh no!
The barkeepers when I come, the girls when I leave

Repeat chorus

Third verse

Meine Strümpfe sind zerrissen, meine Stiefel sind entzwei
und draußen auf der Heide, da singt der Vogel frei

Wiederhole Refrain

My socks are ripped, my boots have come apart
And out in the brush the bird sings freely


Repeat chorus

Fourth verse

Und gäb's kein Landstraß nirgends, da säß ich still zu Haus
und gäb's kein Loch im Fasse, da tränk ich gar nicht draus

Wiederhole Refrain

And were there no country roads, I'd be sitting quietly at home
And were there no hole in the cask, I wouldn't be drinking from it

Repeat chorus

Fifth verse

War das 'ne große Freude, als ihn der Herrgott schuf
ein Kerl, wie Samt und Seide, nur schade, daß er suff

Wiederhole Refrain

Wasn't it a great joy when the Lord God created him
A guy like velvet and silk; just a pity that he drank

Repeat chorus

Modern interpretations

German Schlager singer Heino included a version of this song on his 1968 album ...und Sehnsucht uns begleitet.

German heavy metal band Accept incorporated this song into "Fast as a Shark" in their 1982 album Restless and Wild.

In film and television
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References
  1. Frank Trommler, The Many Faces of Germany (in German), p. 159
  2. Georg Nagel. "Ein Heller und Ein Batzen" (in German). Retrieved 23 April 2017.
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