Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Eck
(Originally published in the July 8, 1981 issue of
The Shopping News)
Baerricks Kounty Fersommling
Sing Schticker
I
Die alde Schuldaage
Wie lieb zu meim Hatz sin die alde Schuldaage,
Wann ich als zerick denk wie ich waar en Bu.
Ich seh der Schulmeeschder mei Hossesitz schtaawe:
Sell hot er als finfmol die Woch gut geduh.
Ich hab als gemeent mei Sitz waer voll Geel Weschbe,
Un’s waar so Peinich en Schulbuwli sei.
Awwer nau in meim Hatz sin noch selle die beschde,
Die vergangne Schuldaage, nau ewich verbei!
Mei lieb Kindheitsdaage,
Mei Briggelsupp daage,
Mei siesse Schuldaage,
Sin ewich verbei!
The Old School Days
How dear to my heart are the old school days,
As I think back to the days when I was a boy.
I see the schoolmaster dusting the seat of my pants:
It did it well five times a week.
I used to think my seat was filled with yellow jackets,
And it was so painful to be a schoolboy.
But now in my heart those are still the best,
The departed school days, now gone forever!
My beloved childhood days,
My paddling days,
My sweet school days,
Are now gone forever!
“Die alde Schuldaage” is to be sung to the tune of “The Old Oaken Bucket.”
***
II
Die glee schteene Karich
Sis en Karich em Daal negscht am Beint Busch.
Der Blatz is der schenscht graad do rum.
Ken Blatz vun mein Kindheit is mir so lieb,
Wie die glee schteene Karich im Daal.
Chorus: Oh, kumm, kumm, kumm, kumm,
Kumm zu der Karich im Daal.
Ken Blatz vun mein Kindheit
Is mir so lieb,
Wie die glee schteene Karich im Daal.
Wie siess uff me glaare Sunndaags Mariye,
Wann die Bell schallt dadde im Daal.
Sie ruft: Kummt bei fer Gott diene,
In der gleene schteene Karich im Daal.
Vernon M. Kamp, 1966
The Little Stone Church
There’s a church in the dale near the pine bush.
The spot is the most beautiful right around here.
No place of my childhood is so dear to me,
As the little stone church in the valley.
Chorus: Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church at the pine bush.
Oh, come to the church in the vale.
No place from my childhood
Is so dear to me,
As the little stone church in the dale.
How sweet on a clear Sunday morning.
When the bell echoes there in the valley.
It calls: Come along and worship God,
In the little stone church in the vale.
“Die glee schteene Karich” should be sung to the tune of “The Little Brown Church.”
***
III
Datt geht der Kaader
(Pop goes the Weasel)
Datt um der Abbelbaam, der Hund der yaagt der Kaader.
Der Hund, der meent’s waer all yuscht Gschpass,
Yoh net der Kaader.
Noh gehne die noch aa mohl rum,
Noh watt der Kaader grittlich
Er dreht rum un hackt der Hund –
Noh geht’s awwer ans Yohle!!!
There goes the tomcat!
There around the apple tree, the dog chases the tomcat.
The dog, he thinks it’s all just fun,
Yes, but not the tomcat.
Then they go around one more time,
Then the tomcat becomes annoyed.
He turns around and whacks the dog –
Then the dog begins to howl!!!
***
Late last month the most recent collection of Pennsylvania Dutch songs came to us from John H. Schrack, 353 Pennsylvania Avenue, Shillington, Pennsylvania 19607. The 52-page booklet, which is entitled: Baerricks Kounty Fersommling: Sing Schticker, contains “fifty songs arranged alphabetically by title, with the exception of the three for which no music was found.” For this Eck, we picked out three texts with familiar tunes. Our favorite is the last one, which is just perfect for the tune “Pop Goes The Weasel!”
In a letter dated June 22, 1981, Mr. Schrack informs us that these song booklets are available from him (at the address given above) by mail order for $2.50.
The Foreward to Sing Schticker, which was written by John H. Schrack, tells us that: “Sing Schticker Fon Die Baerricks Kounty Fersommling includes all the songs that have been used by The Baerricks Kounty Fersommling over the years since the inception of the organization in 1937. There are fifty songs arranged alphabetically by title, with the exception of the three for which no music was found.
Through the combined efforts of Edith Reifsnyder, Donald A. Weaver, Harold Schaeffer, Marie Graeff, and Frederick Stauffer, it is possible to present the melody and words of 47 of these songs.
The Baerricks Kounty Fersommling has held annual dinner meetings since 1937 with the exception of two war years. The purpose of the organization is to promote dialect and culture of the Pennsylvania Germans. The governing body, called the Rawd, consists of 30 men and women, all of whom are residents of Berks County.”
So let’s hear some Dutch singing out there in Shopping News Land!
For those of you who like to attend dialect functions and wish to know about the dialect events scheduled for 1981, write to John H. Schrack and request a copy of: “Pennsylvania German Dialect and Related Events in Berks and Other Areas, 1981.”
July 8, 1981
Es Bischli-Gnippli, as allfatt am Yohle is!