Der Kanonen Song

Bertolt Brecht

Originale Versione italiana, dal libretto... La versione italiana generalmente... Versione tedesco/italiana di Daniele... Traduzione inglese di Marc Blitzstein... Squaddies Song, una versione inglese... Versione francese di Marianne... Versión española La versione greca degli Ohra Speirohaiti,... Versione polacca di Roman Kołakowski ... Traduzione finlandese / Finnish...	English Translation, from [Broken Link]
KANONEN SONG / CANZONE DEI CANNONI	THE CANNONS SONG
1. John war darunter und Jim war dabei Und Georgie ist Sergeant geworden Doch die Armee, sie fragt keinen, wer er sei Und sie marschierte hinauf nach dem Norden. Soldaten wohnen Auf den Kanonen Vom Cap bis Couch Behar. Wenn es mal regnete Und es begegnete Ihnen 'ne neue Rasse 'ne braune oder blasse Da machen sie vielleicht daraus ihr Beefsteak Tartar.	1. Johnny and Jimmy were both on the scene And George had his promotion order For the Army doesn't ask what a man has been: They were all marching north to the border. The Army's story1 Is guns and glory From the Cape to Cutch Behar. When they are at a loss And chance to come across New and unruly races With brown or yellow faces They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare!
2. Johnny si lamenta del gin per Jimmy le coperte sono scarse George dice "Allora? Si sa che la Patria non vuole rovinarsi" Soldati e bombe cannoni e trombe dal Sud a Capo Nord piovesse oppure no ci si svagava un po' dalla mattina a sera con gente bianca e nera di teste braccia gambe facevamo COCKTAILS!	2. Warm whiskey went to Johnny's head And Jimmy was cold every night, But George took them both by the arm and said: The Army lasts forever, and might is right. The Army's story Is guns and glory From the Cape to Cutch Behar. When they are at a loss And chance to come across New and unruly races With brown or yellow faces They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare!
3. John è scomparso, Jim non c'è più di George non si sa più niente scorre sempre sangue però per la Patria non manca mai gente! John era insieme a Mac come me e George diventò sergente nulla chiedeva la Patria a loro tre solo andare a Nord o ad Oriente Soldati e bombe cannoni e trombe dal Sud a Capo Nord piovesse oppure no ci si svagava un po' dalla mattina a sera con gente bianca e nera di teste braccia gambe facevamo COCKTAILS!	3. Now Jim is missing and George is dead And whiskey has sent Johnny barmy But blood is blood and still runs red-- They're recruiting again for the army!! [they all sit there, marching with their feet]2 The Army's story Is guns and glory From the Cape to Cutch Behar. When they are at a loss And chance to come across New and unruly races With brown or yellow faces They chop them into little bits of beefsteak tartare!
	FOOTNOTES 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.