In 1968, he co-founded the psychedelic rock group Wonderland which also included English ex-patriate Les Humphries who would soon start his own Les Humphries Singers. In 1971, Reichel left the group for his own progressive Krautrock solo project, A. R. & Machines, of which the first album Die grüne Reise (The green journey) was critically acclaimed and likened to bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Since 1975, Reichel has taken a keen interest in recording traditional German songs and classic poetry as modern-style music, which includes such albums as Dat Shanty Alb'm (1975), Klabautermann (1977), Regenballade (1978), Fledermaus (1988), Melancholie & Sturmflut (1991, including the hit Aloha Heja He), Wilder Wassermann (2002), and Volxlieder (2006).
Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland
Achim Reichel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ein Birnbaum in seinem Garten stand
Und kam die goldene Herbsteszeit
Und die Birnen leuchteten weit und breit
Da stopfte, wenn's Mittag vom Turme scholl
Der von Ribbeck sich beide Taschen voll
Und kam in Pantinen ein Junge daher
So rief er: "Junge, wiste 'ne Beer?"
Kumm man röwer, ick hebb 'ne Bern!"
So ging es viel Jahre, bis lobesam
Der von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck zu sterben kam
Er fühlte sein Ende, 's war Herbsteszeit
Wieder lachten die Birnen weit und breit
Da sagte von Ribbeck: "Ich scheide nun ab –
Legt mir eine Birne mit ins Grab!"
Und drei Tage drauf, aus dem Doppeldachhaus
Trugen von Ribbeck sie hinaus
Alle Bauern und Büdner mit Feiergesicht
Sangen "Jesus meine Zuversicht"
Und die Kinder klagten, das Herze schwer:
"He is dod nu. Wer giwt uns nu 'ne Beer?"
So klagten die Kinder. Das war nicht recht –
Ach, sie kannten den alten Ribbeck schlecht!
Der Neue freilich, der knausert und spart
Hält Park und Birnbaum strenge verwahrt –
Aber der Alte, vorahnend schon
Und voll Misstraun gegen den eigenen Sohn
Der wusste genau, was damals er tat
Als um eine Birn' ins Grab er bat!
Und im dritten Jahr aus dem stillen Haus
Ein Birnbaumsprößling sprosst heraus!
Und die Jahre gingen wohl auf und ab –
Längst wölbt sich ein Birnbaum über dem Grab
Und in der goldenen Herbsteszeit
Leuchtet's wieder weit und breit
Und kommt ein Jung' übern Kirchhof her
So flüstert's im Baume: "Wiste 'ne Beer?"
Und kommt ein Mädel, so flüstert's: "Lütt Dern
Kumm man röwer, ick gew di 'ne Bern!"
So spendet Segen noch immer die Hand
Des von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland!
The song "Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland" by Achim Reichel is a tribute to a man named Ribbeck who lived in the Havelland region of Germany. Ribbeck was known for having a birch tree in his garden that produced delicious, golden-colored pears. The song begins by describing the beauty of autumn and the brilliance of the Birnen (pears) that Ribbeck would collect in his pockets anytime the church bells indicated it was midday. Whenever a child passed by, Ribbeck would offer them a pear and ask them if they wanted another one.
As the years went by, Ribbeck grew old and eventually knew that he was near the end of his life. He asked to be buried with a pear in his hand. At his funeral, the children who had grown up with Ribbeck were heartbroken that he was gone and that there would be no more pears to give them. However, as the song notes, the new owner of the property was unworthy of the tree and kept it locked away so that no one could take from it.
Despite this, the song ends on a positive note. It is revealed that a new pear tree sprouted from the original tree, and it too produces delicious Birnen. The singer of the song assures us that "the hand of Ribbeck still blesses" and the tradition of generosity and kindness will continue on.
Overall, the song is a celebration of Ribbeck and the values he embodied: generosity, kindness, and a love for the bounty of nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland –
A wealthy man named Ribbeck lived in the Havelland region, in a village called Ribbeck.
Ein Birnbaum in seinem Garten stand
In his garden, Ribbeck had a pear tree.
Und kam die goldene Herbsteszeit
In autumn, when the leaves of the tree turned golden yellow.
Und die Birnen leuchteten weit und breit
The ripe pears shone brightly and were visible from afar.
Da stopfte, wenn's Mittag vom Turme scholl
When the church bell rang at noon, Ribbeck would stuff his pockets with pears.
Der von Ribbeck sich beide Taschen voll
He filled both his pockets to the brim with pears.
Und kam in Pantinen ein Junge daher
If a boy from the nearby town of Pantin came by,
So rief er: "Junge, wiste 'ne Beer?"
Ribbeck would ask: "Boy, would you like a pear?"
Und kam ein Mädel, so rief er: "Lütt Dern
If a girl came by, he would say:
Kumm man röwer, ick hebb 'ne Bern!"
"Come over here, little girl, I have a pear for you!"
So ging es viel Jahre, bis lobesam
This went on for many years, until Ribbeck passed away.
Der von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck zu sterben kam
As he felt death approaching him in the autumn season again,
Er fühlte sein Ende, 's war Herbsteszeit
Ribbeck asked for a pear to be placed in his casket when he died.
Wieder lachten die Birnen weit und breit
The pears still shone brightly in the golden autumn season.
Da sagte von Ribbeck: "Ich scheide nun ab –
Ribbeck told his family and friends that he was passing away.
Legt mir eine Birne mit ins Grab!"
He requested that a pear be placed in his grave.
Und drei Tage drauf, aus dem Doppeldachhaus
Three days later, the people of the village carried Ribbeck's casket out of his house with a double roof, as was tradition.
Trugen von Ribbeck sie hinaus
The farmers and tenants of the land carried his coffin.
Alle Bauern und Büdner mit Feiergesicht
All the farmers and workers looked solemn.
Sangen "Jesus meine Zuversicht"
They sang a hymn called "Jesus my confidence."
Und die Kinder klagten, das Herze schwer:
The children were sad and upset at Ribbeck's passing:
"He is dod nu. Wer giwt uns nu 'ne Beer?"
"He's dead now. Who will give us pears?"
So klagten die Kinder. Das war nicht recht –
However, it was unfair for the children to complain so soon.
Ach, sie kannten den alten Ribbeck schlecht!
They did not know Ribbeck as well as they should have.
Der Neue freilich, der knausert und spart
Ribbeck's son, who inherited the estate, was greedy and selfish.
Hält Park und Birnbaum strenge verwahrt –
He kept the park and the pear tree under close guard.
Aber der Alte, vorahnend schon
Ribbeck, on the other hand, had already anticipated this behavior.
Und voll Misstraun gegen den eigenen Sohn
He did not trust his son.
Der wusste genau, was damals er tat
Ribbeck knew exactly what he was doing when he asked for a pear to be placed in his casket.
Als um eine Birn' ins Grab er bat!
He did it so that a pear tree would grow from his grave.
Und im dritten Jahr aus dem stillen Haus
Three years later, a pear tree started growing from the silence of Ribbeck's grave.
Ein Birnbaumsprößling sprosst heraus!
A sapling of the pear tree had grown successfully.
Und die Jahre gingen wohl auf und ab –
Years passed by.
Längst wölbt sich ein Birnbaum über dem Grab
The pear tree had grown tall and was now arching over Ribbeck's grave.
Und in der goldenen Herbsteszeit
In autumn,
Leuchtet's wieder weit und breit
The pears on the tree were shining again.
Und kommt ein Jung' übern Kirchhof her
If a boy walks across the churchyard,
So flüstert's im Baume: "Wiste 'ne Beer?"
The tree would whisper: "Would you like a pear?"
Und kommt ein Mädel, so flüstert's: "Lütt Dern
If a girl came by, the tree would say:
Kumm man röwer, ick gew di 'ne Bern!"
"Come over here, little girl, I'll give you a pear!"
So spendet Segen noch immer die Hand
The hand of Ribbeck still blessed the people through the pear tree.
Des von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland!
That is the story of Ribbeck, who lived in the village of Ribbeck in the Havelland region.
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@barthelemydechasseneuz8789
Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck in Havelland,
A pear tree stood in his garden,
And came the golden time of autumn
And the pears shone far and wide,
Then, at noon, from the tower,
von Ribbeck stuffed his pockets,
And a boy in slippers came along,
He'd call out, "Boy, want a beer?"
And when a girl came along, he called out: "Lütt Dirn,
Come on down, I've got a pear."
And so it went on for many years, until, with praise
von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck came to die.
He felt his end. It was autumn time,
Again the pears laughed far and wide;
Then von Ribbeck said: "I'm leaving now.
Lay me a pear in my grave."
And three days later, from the double-roofed house,
von Ribbeck carried it out,
All the peasants and bourgeois with solemn face
Sang "Jesus My Confidence",
And the children lamented, their hearts heavy:
"He is dead now. Who will give us a beer now?"
So the children complained. It wasn't right.
They didn't know the old Ribbeck very well;
The new one, of course, who scrimps and saves,
Keeps the park and the pear tree in strict custody.
But the old one, foreboding already
And full of mistrust of his own son,
He knew exactly what he was doing then,
When he asked for a pear for the grave,
And in the third year from the quiet house
A pear-tree sapling sprouted.
And the years went up and down,
Long ago a pear tree arches over the grave,
And in the golden autumn
It shines again far and wide.
And a young boy comes across the churchyard,
And he whispers in the tree, "Would you like a pear?"
And when a girl comes, she whispers: "Lütt Dirn,
Come on over, I'll give you a pear."
The hand of von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck still gives blessing
Of von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland.
@trodomuller1178
Hammer song!
So muss Kultur wachsen und in stetigem Wandel weiterleben.
Klasse!
@LucysArt
Einfach genial, aus einem so schönen Gedicht hat er einfach einen noch schönen Shanty gemacht 😊👌
@sonjamiim7355
Das Gedicht hat eine Lebensweisheit* so ganz stirbt man nie, es bleibt immer ein Stück von einem übrig...** In diesen Fall sind es eben 🍐... 👍🐞
@walterlinnartz1561
Habe es vor 67 Jahren im Kindergarten gelernt. Höre es aber heute immer noch sehr gern.
@yannickschlabach3745
Eine meiner ersten Schallplaten als Kind. Wunderschön.
@PUCHU54
Canción única y bonita.👍
@barthelemydechasseneuz8789
Tienes razón.
@rachelribbeck4191
I wish i had a translation in English of that song ! My family's last is Ribbeck ..the song has a great beat.....
@barthelemydechasseneuz8789
Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck in Havelland,
A pear tree stood in his garden,
And came the golden time of autumn
And the pears shone far and wide,
Then, at noon, from the tower,
von Ribbeck stuffed his pockets,
And a boy in slippers came along,
He'd call out, "Boy, want a beer?"
And when a girl came along, he called out: "Lütt Dirn,
Come on down, I've got a pear."
And so it went on for many years, until, with praise
von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck came to die.
He felt his end. It was autumn time,
Again the pears laughed far and wide;
Then von Ribbeck said: "I'm leaving now.
Lay me a pear in my grave."
And three days later, from the double-roofed house,
von Ribbeck carried it out,
All the peasants and bourgeois with solemn face
Sang "Jesus My Confidence",
And the children lamented, their hearts heavy:
"He is dead now. Who will give us a beer now?"
So the children complained. It wasn't right.
They didn't know the old Ribbeck very well;
The new one, of course, who scrimps and saves,
Keeps the park and the pear tree in strict custody.
But the old one, foreboding already
And full of mistrust of his own son,
He knew exactly what he was doing then,
When he asked for a pear for the grave,
And in the third year from the quiet house
A pear-tree sapling sprouted.
And the years went up and down,
Long ago a pear tree arches over the grave,
And in the golden autumn
It shines again far and wide.
And a young boy comes across the churchyard,
And he whispers in the tree, "Would you like a pear?"
And when a girl comes, she whispers: "Lütt Dirn,
Come on over, I'll give you a pear."
The hand of von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck still gives blessing
Of von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland.
@jafuni9349
Super cool!! Vielen lieben Dank fürs Hochladen!