"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" is a popular song written by Ulster songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, whilst he was a Captain in the British Expeditionary Force during the early stages of the Second World War. The Siegfried Line was a chain of fortifications along Germany's Western border, analogous to the Maginot Line in France. The song was used as a morale-booster during the war, particularly up to and during the Battle of France. It would not be until 1944 when any Allied soldiers were actually able to do it.
It begins
We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear?
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
'Cause the washing day is here.
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Leslie Sarony 1897 - 1985 and Leslie Holmes added some possibly unofficial lines. The Sarony and Holmes version puts "Mother dear, I'm writing you from somewhere in France" etc at the start and then, after the main section, add four lines starting "Everyone is mucking in and doing their job".
A mocking parody was written shortly after:
Ja mein Junge, das hast du dir gar zu leicht gedacht
mit dem großen Wäschetag am deutschen Rhein
hast du dir auch deine Hosen richtig vollgemacht,
brauchst du garnicht traurig sein!
Bald seifen wir dich gründlich ein
von oben und von unten her
wenn der deutsche Waschtag wird gewesen sein,
Mensch, dann brauchst du keine Wäsche mehr!
Sing dies Liedchen mit, wer es nur immer singen mag
mit der zweiten Kriegsberichterkompanie
Bis zum Wäschetag, ja bis zum Wäschetag
In aller Herrgottsfrüh.
Mein Mädel, schenk' noch einmal ein
Und tanzt und trinkt die Gläser leer.
Denn wenn der große Waschtag wird gewesen sein
Kehr' ich heim, kehr' ich heim übers Meer.
English:
Yeah my boy, you thought it would be too easy
having a great washing day at the German rhine!
Well, have you peed your pants already?
No need for you to be sad!
Don't worry, we're coming to face-wash you all over!
and once the German washingday is going to be over
you won't need any laundry anymore!
Anybody who likes can join in on our song
With the second war reporter company
Till laundry day, yes till laundry day
At the crack of dawn.
My girl, pour in again
And dance and drink up the glasses.
Because when the big laundry day had been,
I return home, I return home over the ocean.
Smoother English:
Yeah, my boy, you thought it would be so easy
At the great Washing Day on the German Rhine.
Oh, and you really filled your trousers, didn't you?
But you don't need to be so sad!
Soon we'll scrub you up very thoroughly
From above, and way down below!
And when the German Washing Day is over,
Man, you won't need any more washing.
Join this little song, that we always sing,
In the Second War Reporter Company,
From one Washing Day to the next Washing Day,
Every day at the crack of dawn.
My girl, give us another round
And we'll dance and drink the glasses dry.
Because when the Great Washing Day is done and gone
I'll come home, I'll come home from across the sea.