Originale | English Translation, from [Broken Link]
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DER KANONEN SONG | THE CANNONS SONG |
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1. | 1. |
John war darunter und Jim war dabei | Johnny and Jimmy were both on the scene |
Und Georgie ist Sergeant geworden | And George had his promotion order |
Doch die Armee, sie fragt keinen, wer er sei | For the Army doesn't ask what a man has been: |
Und sie marschierte hinauf nach dem Norden. | They were all marching north to the border. |
Soldaten wohnen | The Army's story1 |
Auf den Kanonen | Is guns and glory |
Vom Cap bis Couch Behar. | From the Cape to Cutch Behar. |
Wenn es mal regnete | When they are at a loss |
Und es begegnete | And chance to come across |
Ihnen 'ne neue Rasse | New and unruly races |
'ne braune oder blasse | With brown or yellow faces |
Da machen sie vielleicht daraus ihr Beefsteak Tartar. | They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare! |
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2. | 2. |
Johnny war der Whisky zu warm | Warm whiskey went to Johnny's head |
Und Jimmy hatte nie genug Decken | And Jimmy was cold every night, |
Aber Georgie nahm beide beim Arm | But George took them both by the arm and said: |
Und sagte: Die Armee kann nicht verrecken. | The Army lasts forever, and might is right. |
Soldaten wohnen | The Army's story |
Auf den Kanonen | Is guns and glory |
Vom Cap bis Couch Behar. | From the Cape to Cutch Behar. |
Wenn es mal regnete | When they are at a loss |
Und es begegnete | And chance to come across |
Ihnen 'ne neue Rasse | New and unruly races |
'ne braune oder blasse | With brown or yellow faces |
Da machen sie vielleicht daraus ihr Beefsteak Tartar. | They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare! |
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3. | 3. |
John ist gestorben und Jim ist tot | Now Jim is missing and George is dead |
Und Georgie ist verißt und verdorben | And whiskey has sent Johnny barmy |
Aber Blut ist immer noch rot | But blood is blood and still runs red-- |
Und für die Armee wird jetzt wieder geworben! | They're recruiting again for the army!! |
[Indem sie sitzend mit den Füßen marschieren]2 | [they all sit there, marching with their feet]2 |
Soldaten wohnen | The Army's story |
Auf den Kanonen | Is guns and glory |
Vom Cap bis Couch Behar. | From the Cape to Cutch Behar. |
Wenn es mal regnete | When they are at a loss |
Und es begegnete | And chance to come across |
Ihnen 'ne neue Rasse | New and unruly races |
'ne braune oder blasse | With brown or yellow faces |
Da machen sie vielleicht daraus ihr Beefsteak Tartar. | They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare! |
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1) This is a rhyming translation, not a precisely literal translation. The first line of the original German really does read "Soldiers live on the Cannons", hence the name "Kanonen-Song". My dad assures me that the English translation does emote the same feeling that a German would feel upon hearing the phrase "Soldiers live on the cannons".
2) The additional line in verse 3 is a Stage Direction for the actors singing the Kanonen Song.