The "Westerwaldlied" ("Westerwald Song") is a German folk song, written by Willi Münker in 1932, set to music by in 1935, and published in 1937. An ode to the Westerwald region of western Germany, it has been performed by the German military for many decades.
History The song's lyrics were written by Willi Münker in November 1932, before Hitler's rise to power. It was set to music by Joseph Neuhäuser in 1935, reportedly based on an old folk song. It was published and recorded for the first time in 1937. It is an ode to the Westerwald region of western Germany. It was sung by the German military during World War II.
The song for many decades was considered innocuous enough to be performed by the contemporary West German military., SWR Fernsehen However, in recent years the performance of "Westerwaldlied" has become somewhat contentious and controversial in Germany due to its association with the Nazi era, with the German military reportedly ceasing performances of the song because of it in 2017. Defenders of the song maintain that it is an apolitical folk song with an established history of apolitical, innocuous usage.
Usage elsewhere A Spanish-language song based on the "Westerwaldlied"'s melody as composed by Neuhäuser is sung by the Chilean Army, where it is known as "Himno de la Sección". It is also the inspiration for the South Korean patriotic song "Our Nation Forever", used by the South Korean military.
It also appears in Rainer Werner Fassbinder's 1973 film World on a Wire during a scene where the protagonist watches a performance at a nightclub with a Marlene Dietrich impersonator being executed by Nazi soldiers after singing a rendition of "Lili Marleen".
Lyrics Heute wollen wir marschier'n, einen neuen Marsch probier'n, in dem schönen Westerwald, Ja da pfeift der Wind so kalt. Refrain: Oh, Du schöner Westerwald, (Eukalyptusbonbon) über deine Höhen pfeift der Wind so kalt, jedoch der kleinste Sonnenschein dringt tief ins Herz hinein
Und die Gretel und der Hans geh'n am Sonntag gern zum Tanz weil das Tanzen Freude macht und das Herz im Leibe lacht Refrain
Ist das Tanzen dann vorbei gibt es meistens Keilerei und dem Bursch, den das nicht freut, sagt man nach, er hat kein' Schneid. Refrain
Oh, du schöner Westerwald, bist ja weit und breit bekannt, echte Menschen der Natur von Falschheit keine Spur. Refrain Today we want to march To try out a new march In the lovely Westerwald Yes, there the wind whistles so cold. Refrain: Oh, you lovely Westerwald, (Eukalyptusbonbon) over your heights the wind whistles so cold, however, the slightest sunshine thrusts deep into the heart.
And Gretel and Hans gladly go dancing on Sunday because dancing makes joy and the heart in the body laughs. Refrain
When the dancing is over there is mostly fighting and the lad whom that does not please is accused of having no grit. Refrain
Oh, you lovely Westerwald are known far and wide, true people of nature of falsehood no trace. Refrain
Music
Source (except the Eucalyptusbonbon bit)
References