Busch first rose to prominence as an interpreter of political songs, particularly those of Kurt Tucholsky, in the Berlin cabaret scene of the 1920s. He starred in the original 1928 production of Bertolt Brecht's Threepenny Opera, as well as the subsequent 1931 film by Georg Wilhelm Pabst.
A lifelong Communist, Busch fled Nazi Germany in 1933 with the Gestapo on his heels, eventually settling in the Soviet Union. In 1937 he joined the International Brigades to fight against fascism in Spain. After Spain fell to the Franco, he emigrated to Belgium, where he was interned during the Nazi occupation and later imprisoned in Gurs, France and Berlin. Freed by the Red Army in 1945, he settled in East Berlin, where he worked with Bertold Brecht and Erwin Piscator at the "Berliner Ensemble". A beloved figure in the German Democratic Republic, he is best remembered for his performance in the title role of Brecht's Galileo, and for his stirring recordings of worker's songs, including many written by Hanns Eisler.
Zu Potsdam unter den Eichen
Ernst Busch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im hellen Mittag ein Zug
Vorn eine Trommel und hinten eine Fahn'
In der Mitte einen Sarg man trug!
Zu Potsdam Unter den Eichen
Durch hundertjährigen Staub
Da trugen Sechse einen Sarg
Und auf dem Sarge mit Mennigerot
Da war gemalt ein Reim –
Die Buchstaben sahen hässlich aus:
"Jedem Krieger sein Heim!"
"Jedem Krieger sein Heim!"
Das war zum Angedenken
An manchen toten Mann
Geboren in der Heimat
Gefallen am Chemin-des-Dames!
Gekrochen einst mit Herz und Hand
Dem Vaterland auf den Leim –
Belohnt mit dem Sarge vom Vaterland:
"Jedem Krieger sein Heim!"
So zogen sie durch Potsdam
Für den Mann am Chemin-des-Dames –
Da kam die preußische Polizei
Und haute sie zusamm'!
The lyrics to Ernst Busch's song "Zu Potsdam Unter den Eichen" speak of a procession that takes place "Unter den Eichen" in Potsdam. The procession is of a train that carries a coffin in the middle with a drum in front and a flag at the back. The coffin is carried by six pallbearers, all of whom wear helmets and oak leaves. On top of the coffin is a black and red cloth inscribed with the phrase "Jedem Krieger sein Heim!" meaning "Every warrior has his home". The phrase is accompanied by some other words that are not clear enough to read.
This procession is a memorial for fallen soldiers who were born in Germany and died in Chemin-des-Dames. The soldiers are praised for giving their heart and soul for their homeland. The phrase "Jedem Krieger sein Heim!" on their coffin suggests that they have finally found their home in death. However, the last stanza tells us that the procession was stopped by the Prussian police, and the pallbearers were beaten mercilessly.
"Zu Potsdam Unter den Eichen" is unapologetically political in its lyrics, with a clear socialist message. The song speaks of the horrors of war, and how the soldiers who fought and died for their countries were often misled by their leaders. The message is clear- war only brings destruction, both for the losers and winners.
Line by Line Meaning
Zu Potsdam Unter den Eichen
The song is talking about a procession through a city known as Potsdam, which has many oak trees.
Im hellen Mittag ein Zug
This line means that the procession was happening during the bright daylight.
Vorn eine Trommel und hinten eine Fahn'
The procession was led by a drummer in the front and a flag-bearer in the back.
In der Mitte einen Sarg man trug!
The main part of the procession involved carrying a coffin through the city.
Durch hundertjährigen Staub
The coffin was carried through old dusty streets that had been around for over a century.
Da trugen Sechse einen Sarg
This line means that six people were carrying the coffin, indicating that the person who passed away was important.
Mit Helm und Eichenlaub!
The six people carrying the coffin were wearing helmets and oak leaves, which is a traditional symbol of strength and valor.
Und auf dem Sarge mit Mennigerot
The coffin had a painting of Mennigerot on it.
Da war gemalt ein Reim –
The painting had a rhyme on it.
Die Buchstaben sahen hässlich aus:
The letters of the rhyme looked ugly and were probably hard to read.
"Jedem Krieger sein Heim!"
The rhyme on the coffin said "To every warrior his home!".
Das war zum Angedenken
This line means that the procession was meant to be a memorial for a fallen soldier.
An manchen toten Mann
The procession was meant to honor the memory of some dead man.
Geboren in der Heimat
The person who had passed away was born in that city (Potsdam).
Gefallen am Chemin-des-Dames!
The person had died fighting in the Chemin-des-Dames battle.
Gekrochen einst mit Herz und Hand
This line means that the person had once fought with all their heart and strength.
Dem Vaterland auf den Leim –
The person had fought for their country and had been deceived by it.
Belohnt mit dem Sarge vom Vaterland:
The person was rewarded with a coffin for their service to their country.
"Jedem Krieger sein Heim!"
The rhyme on the coffin was a reminder that every soldier deserves to return to their home after serving their country.
So zogen sie durch Potsdam
This line means that the procession moved through the city of Potsdam.
Für den Mann am Chemin-des-Dames –
The procession was meant to honor the memory of the man who had died at the Chemin-des-Dames battle.
Da kam die preußische Polizei
The Prussian police saw the procession.
Und haute sie zusamm'!
The police brutally attacked the procession.
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-mo6zb6hq8g
Ich mag die Lieder von Ernst Busch sehr, aber ich kann die Platten in China nicht kaufen, bitte laden Sie mehr hoch!