PEAT BOG SOLDIERS 4/4

Peat Bog Soldiers is one of Europe's best-known protest songs. It exists in countless European languages, became a Republican anthem during the Spanish Civil War; was a symbol of resistance during the Second World War; and is popular with the Peace movement today. What makes it perhaps so poignant is the knowledge that is was written, composed and first performed in 1933 in a Nazi concentration camp by the prisoners themselves.

Amonst others this song was recorded by the German folk musician Hannes Wader. The Englsih version given here is a shortened one with only three verses of the original six.

 

(Em)Far and wide as the eye can wander,

(Am)Heath and (Em)bog are (B7)every(Em)where.

(G)Not a bird sings out to cheer us.

(Am)Oaks are (Em)standing (B7)gaunt and (Em)bare.

 

Chorus

(D7)We (G)are the peat bog (D)soldiers,

(Em)Marching with our (B7)spades to the (Em)moor.

(D7)We (G)are the peat bog (D)soldiers,

(Em)Marching with our (B7)spades to the (Em)moor.

 

(Em)Up and down the guards are marching,

(Am)No one, (Em)no one (B7)can get (Em)through.

(G)Flight would mean a sure death facing,

(Am)Guns and (Em)barbed wire (B7)block our (Em)view.

 

Chorus

 

(Em)But for us there is no complaining,

(Am)Winter (Em)will in (B7)time be (Em)past.

(G)One day we shall rise rejoicing.

(Am)Homeland, (Em)dear, you're (B7)mine at (Em)last.

 

Chorus

PEAT BOG SOLDIERS LYRICS 

 

(Em)Far and wide as the eye can wander,

(Am)Heath and (Em)bog are (B7)every(Em)where.

(G)Not a bird sings out to cheer us.

(Am)Oaks are (Em)standing (B7)gaunt and (Em)bare.

 

Chorus

We are the peat bog soldiers,

Marching with our spades to the moor.

We are the peat bog soldiers,

(Em)Marching with our spades to the moor.

 

Up and down the guards are marching,

No one, no one can get through.

(G)Flight would mean a sure death facing,

Guns and barbed wire block our view.

 

Chorus

 

But for us there is no complaining,

Winter will in time be past.

One day we shall rise rejoicing.

Homeland, dear, you're mine at last.

 

Chorus

DIE MOORSOLDATEN 4/4

Das Lied wurde 1933 im Konzentrationslager Börgermoor geschrieben. Dort waren Tausende von Nazi-Gegnern interniert und mussten harte Zwangsarbeit leisten, zum Beispiel im Moor arbeiten.

 

1. (Em)Wohin auch das Auge blickt.

(Am)Moor und (Em)Heide (B7)nur rings(Em)um.

(G)Vogelsang uns nicht erquickt,

(Am)Eichen (Em)stehen (B7)kahl und (Em)krumm.

 

Chorus

(D7)Wir (G)sind die Moorsol(D)daten

und (Em)ziehen mit dem (B7)Spaten ins (Em)Moor!

(D7)Wir (G)sind die Moorsol(D)daten

und (Em)ziehen mit dem (B7)Spaten ins (Em)Moor!

 

2. (Em)Hier in dieser öden Heide

(Am)ist das (Em)Lager (B7)aufge(Em)baut,

(G)wo wir fern von jeder Freude

(Am)hinter (Em)Stachel(B7)draht ver(Em)staut.

 

3. (Em)Morgens ziehen die Kolonnen

(Am)in das (Em)Moor zur (B7)Arbeit (Em)hin,

(G)graben bei dem Brand der Sonne,

(Am)doch zur (Em)Heimat (B7)steht der (Em)Sinn.

 

4. (Em)Heimwärts, heimwärts! Jeder sehnet

(Am)sich nach (Em)Eltern, (B7)Weib und (Em)Kind.

(G)Manche Brust ein Seufzer dehnet,

(Am)weil wir (Em)hier ge(B7)fangen (Em)sind.

 

5. (Em)Auf und nieder geh´n die Posten,

(Am)keiner, (Em)keiner (B7)kann hin(Em)durch,

(G)Flucht wird nur das Leben kosten,

(Am)vierfach (Em)ist um(B7)zäunt die (Em)Burg.

 

6. (Em)Doch für uns gibt es kein Klagen,

(Am)ewig (Em)kann´s nicht (B7)Winter (Em)sein.

(G)Einmal werden froh wir sagen:

(Am)Heimat, (Em)Du bist (B7)wieder (Em)mein!

 

(D7)Dann (G)ziehn die Moor(D)soldaten

(Em)nicht mehr mit dem (B7)Spaten ins (Em)Moor!

(D7)Dann (G)ziehn die Moor(D)soldaten

(Em)nicht mehr mit dem (B7)Spaten ins (Em)Moor!