Es war ein Edelweiss

Es war ein Edelweiss (English: "It Was an Edelweiss") The song Es war ein Edelweiß was widely used by Gebirgsjäger from both Waffen-SS and German Army (1935–1945) units during World War II as a marching song. The song is even sung after the war too and both music and lyrics were composed by Herms Niel in 1941

Lyrics and Translation

German lyrics	Approximate translation	Exact translation
First stanza
Ganz einsam und verlassen an steiler Felsenwand, Stolz unter blauem Himmel ein kleines Blümlein stand Ich konnt' nicht widerstehen, ich brach das Blümelein, und schenkte es dem schönsten, herzliebsten Mägdelein Es war ein Edelweiß, ein kleines Edelweiß, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho.	Forlorn and all abandoned, On a cliff face that loomed Proud, under the blue sky, A tiny flower bloomed. I just could not resist it, and picked it where it grew, And gave it to the dearest That my heart ever knew It was an edelweiss, One little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho.	Entirely lonesome and abandoned on steep cliff wall, proud under blue sky stood a little flower I couldn´t resist, and picked the flower, and gave it to the loveliest girl dearest to my heart It was an edelweiss, A little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho.
Second stanza
Sie trägt es mir zu Ehren an ihrem Sonntagskleid. Sie weiß, dass dieses Blümlein ein Männerherz erfreut. sie trägt es mir zuliebe, Und ich bin stolz darauf, denn diese kleine Blume schloss einst zwei Herzen auf. Es war ein Edelweiß ein kleines Edelweiß, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho.	She wore with pride and honour, It on her Sunday best. She knows this little, tiny star A man's heart cheers the best. Just for my sake she wore it, And it does make me proud, 'cause of this little flower, Two hearts each other vowed. It was an edelweiss, One little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho	She wore it in my honour, on her Sunday´s dress. She knows this little star cheers a man´s heart she wore it for my sake And I´m proud of that because this little flower locked two hearts It was an edelweiss, One little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho
Third stanza
So einsam und verlassen, wie dieses Blümlein stand, so standen wir im Leben, bis Herz zu Herz sich fand. Ein Leben voller Liebe Und Glück und Sonnenschein hat uns gebracht das kleine, einsame Blümelein. Es war ein Edelweiß, ein kleines Edelweiß, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho.	So lonesome and abandoned, As this small flower stood, So were our lives forlorn Till two hearts joined for good. A life of love forever With luck and shining sun, Is what this flow'r presented, What it for us has done. It was an edelweiss, One little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi diho	So lonesome and abandoned, as this small flower stood, so we stand in life, until heart to heart finds one another. A life full of love With luck and sunshine, was brought to us by the lonely little flower. It was an edelweiss, One little edelweiss, Holla-hidi hollala, Hollahi dihorer[1]

See also

• Nazi songs
• Erika (song)
• Königgrätzer Marsch
• Panzerlied

References

1. Lyrics, Musikum