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

German	English 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

• Featured in Season 1 Episode 4 of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels

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.