We Remember (Naming of Names)

2018

I have written political songs for half a century. I’m very proud of this one, commemorating political activists of all sorts who have given up their lives or their freedom for their beliefs. It was recorded circa 1988 and is sung here by my partner, Irene Pyper-Scott and our 1980s women’s chorus, Jade.

(1) Ernst Thälmann_ 1886-1944, chairman of the German communist party, presidential candidate in 1932 (third place behind von Hindenburg and Hitler), shot by order of Hitler in Buchenwald concentration camp. Seeger's spelling Taelmann is incorrect, Thaelmann would be an acceptable variant._Ich träumte von Teddy ThälmannDie Nacht einen schönen Traum.Er war entfloh'n aus dem Kerker,die Nazis schrien wild..._(W. Biermann, Ernst Thälmann)

(2) Scholl is a kind of generic name. Hans and Sophie Scholl were siblings beheaded by the Nazis on Feb 22, 1943. They were members of the Weiße Rose (white rose) movement. Their crime_ writing and distribution of anti-Nazis pamphlets. I don't know who is meant by the other two names. Both names are not known to me as members of the Weiße Rose. Seeger's spelling Shehr is definitely incorrect, Scheer is the most probable spelling, Scher is remotely possible. Schwartz could also be spelled Schwarz, but both names don't ring a bell.

(3) Karl and Rosa are Karl Liebknecht (1871-1919) and Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919), communist leaders, members of the Spartacus League, tortured and murdered without trial by right-wing militia on Jan 15, 1919. When the murderers, German officers, were on trial the public prosecutor started his speech with the words_ _When on January 16th the papers brought the news of the violent death of Dr. Karl Liebknecht and Ms. Rosa Luxemburg, many may have thought and many even spoken the words_ Thank God for that._ No wonder that the highest sentence for one of the accused was 2 years and four months._Karl Liebknecht und Luxemburg, Rosa,so muss es den Menschen ja geh'n,lebendig und totgeschlagenhab' ich sie noch beide geseh'n..._(W. Biermann, Hugenottenfriedhof)