HANNES WADER (born Hans Eckard Wader on 23 June 1942) is a German songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴HANNES WADER (born Hans Eckard Wader on 23 June 1942) is a German songwriter (Liedermacher), singer and guitarist. He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on with his songs that covered themes like socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America, writing both new songs himself and playing versions of older historical works.

Wader was born in Bielefeld, Westphalia. His works are mostly based on German folk songs. Aside from his own lyrics, he also performs works of famous poets like Eichendorff. He now rarely sings the workers' songs and socialist hymns that used to be a large part of his repertoire. He recently published an album exclusively with songs by Franz Schubert. He also performed translated works from Carl Michael Bellman in the album "Liebe, Schnaps & Tod".

Remarkably, many of the social issues Wader sang about are still relevant today. Besides e.g. Franz Josef Degenhardt, Wader can be considered as one of the most active political singers in Germany.

In the 1970s Hanners Wader became one of the stars of the political left through his provocative songs. He was a member of the German Communist Party from 1977 to 1991. The publication of the song "Der Tankerkönig" stirred up controversy, as it covered the kidnapping of the son of the tycoon Rudolf August Oetker. Wader even came under suspicions of terrorism.

In 1973 he moved to Struckum, in Nordfriesland, where he published some of his later albums. He moved with his family in 1998 to live in Kreis Steinburg.

He has published numerous albums and still goes on tours around Germany. He appears on open-air concerts and also in clubs.

http://www.scala-kuenstler.de/hannes-wader.html

Solidaritätslied
Hannes Wader Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
Beim Hungern und beim Essen
Vorwärts und nie vergessen:
Die Solidarität!

Auf ihr Völker dieser Erde
Einigt euch in diesem Sinn

Dass sie jetzt die eure werde
Und die große Nährerin

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
Beim Hungern und beim Essen
Vorwärts und nie vergessen:
Die Solidarität!

Schwarzer, Weißer, Brauner, Gelber!
Endet ihre Schlächterei!
Reden erst die Völker selber
Werden sie schnell einig sein

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
Beim Hungern und beim Essen
Vorwärts und nie vergessen:
Die Solidarität!

Wollen wir es schnell erreichen
Brauchen wir noch dich und dich
Wer im Stich lässt seinesgleichen
Lässt ja nur sich selbst im Stich

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
Beim Hungern und beim Essen
Vorwärts und nie vergessen:
Die Solidarität!

Unsre Herrn, wer sie auch seien
Sehen unsre Zwietracht gern
Denn solang sie uns entzweien
Bleiben sie doch unsre Herrn

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
Beim Hungern und beim Essen
Vorwärts und nie vergessen:
Die Solidarität!

Proletarier aller Länder
Einigt euch und ihr seid frei
Eure großen Regimenter
Brechen jede Tyrannei!

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Und die Frage korrekt gestellt
Beim Hungern und beim Essen:

Wessen Straße ist die Straße?
Wessen Welt ist die Welt?

Overall Meaning

Hannes Wader's song Solidaritätslied is a call for solidarity among people of different backgrounds and nationalities. The first stanza emphasizes the importance of solidarity in difficult times - whether in hunger or plenty, it is essential to never forget the power of standing together. The second stanza urges people of all nations to unite and recognize that the Earth's resources are meant to be shared for the common good. The third stanza speaks to the absurdity of racism and how it only benefits those in power, rather than promoting unity among people. The fourth stanza acknowledges that achieving solidarity will take effort from everyone but reminds us that abandoning one another is ultimately self-defeating. The fifth stanza criticizes the ruling class for promoting division among the working class, as it maintains their control. The final stanza envisions a world free of tyranny and exploitation through the unity of the oppressed.

Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing together in the face of adversity and recognizing the common humanity that binds us all.

Line by Line Meaning

Vorwärts und nicht vergessen
Let's move forward and not forget

Worin unsere Stärke besteht!
We must remember where our strength lies!

Beim Hungern und beim Essen
In times of hunger and times of plenty

Vorwärts und nie vergessen: Die Solidarität!
Let's move forward and never forget solidarity!

Auf ihr Völker dieser Erde
People of this Earth

Einigt euch in diesem Sinn
Unite with this mindset

Dass sie jetzt die eure werde
Making it yours for now

Und die große Nährerin
And for this great nurturer

Schwarzer, Weißer, Brauner, Gelber!
Black, white, brown, yellow!

Endet ihre Schlächterei!
Put an end to their slaughter!

Reden erst die Völker selber
When people speak for themselves