Badnerlied

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The Badnerlied ("Song of the People of Baden") is the unofficial hymn of the former state of Baden, now part of Baden-Württemberg.

1 Origin
2 Importance
3 Variations
4 Text
5 Literatur
6 External links

[edit] Origin

The song was adapted around 1865 from a similar hymn praising Saxony, which has since fallen into obscurity. Two reference points are the Festung in Rastatt and the industrialization of Mannheim. The verse beginning with "Alt-Heidelberg, Du feine" originates from the poem "The Trumpeteer of Säckingen", a poem written around 1852 by Joseph Victor von Scheffel, who was also a resident of Baden. The earliest printed version of the Badnerlied appeared in 1906, in Marschlieder des 5. badischen Infanterieregiments Nr. 113 ("Marching songs of the 5th Infantry regiment of Baden").

[edit] Importance

In the 1920s, there was talk of making the song the official hymn of Baden, but nothing came of it. The song's popularity was rekindled in the 1950s, in the wake of Baden having been absorbed into Baden-Württemberg; it has since remained the most popular regional hymn in south-west Germany.

The Badnerlied is played at home games of regional football, such as SC Freiburg or Karlsruher SC, but also in other contexts. The first four verses are the best known; the fifth (Der Bauer und der Edelmann...) is not as well known.

[edit] Variations

The order of the verses also is subject to change, particularly swapping the second and fourth verses. Other small variations exist; in many places, steht is substituted for ist, for example In Rastatt ist die Festung becoming In Rastatt steht die Festung.

Many additional verses have been written. Particularly popular are those dealing with specific regions or cities, as well as those disparaging Swabia.

Rothaus, the state brewery of Baden, has its own modification, replacing In Rastatt ist die Festung with In Rothaus ist die Brauerei. This is particularly the case at football (soccer) games sponsored by the brewery. This is not the case with SC Freiburg; Karlsruher SC displays the text on the video screen, but the audio differs.

Charts created by the radio station SWR1 placed the Badnerlied at #9 for the whole state of Baden. Some regions scored higher; Konstanz (population 82,000) ranked it at #3; In Mosbach, it was even ranked as #1, leading an organization to name the residents of Mosbach as the 2006 Badeners of the year.

[edit] Text

German lyrics	Literal English translation
Verse 1
Das schönste Land in Deutschlands Gau’n, das ist mein Badnerland. Es ist so herrlich anzuschaun und ruht in Gottes Hand.	The most beautiful among all German lands that is my land of Baden it looks so magnificent and lies in the hand of God
Refrain
D’rum grüß ich dich mein Badnerland, du edle Perl’ im deutschen Land. frisch auf, frisch auf; frisch auf, frisch auf; frisch auf, frisch auf mein Badnerland.	And so, I greet you, my land of Baden You noble pearl of Germany Arise, arise; arise, arise! Arise, arise, arise my Badnerland!
Verse 2
In Karlsruh' ist die Residenz, in Mannheim die Fabrik. In Rastatt ist die Festung und das ist Badens Glück.	The castle is in Karlsruhe, The factories, in Mannheim In Rastatt, there is the stronghold And that is Baden's fortune
Verse 3
Alt-Heidelberg, du feine, du Stadt an Ehren reich, am Neckar und am Rheine, kein’ and’re kommt dir gleich.	Old Heidelberg, you noble city, rich in honors On the banks of the Neckar and Rhein, you are without equal
Verse 4
In Haslach gräbt man Silbererz, Bei Freiburg wächst der Wein, im Schwarzwald schöne Mädchen, ein Badner möcht’ ich sein.	Silver is mined in Haslach, In Freiburg, wine is grown, In the Black Forest, maidens fair Oh! To be a Badner!
Verse 5
Der Bauer und der Edelmann, das stolze Militär die schau’n einander freundlich an, und das ist Badens Ehr.	The farmer and the nobleman, the proud military they look friendly at each other and this is Baden's honor.

[edit] Literatur

Waltraud Linder-Beroud: Ein neues Land – ein neues Lied? Badische Heimat 82 (2002), p. 96-109.
Lutz Röhrich: „... und das ist Badens Glück“. Heimatlieder und Regionalhymnen im deutschen Südwesten. Auf der Suche nach Identität. Jahrbuch für Volksliedforschung, Jg. 35 (1990), p. 14-25.