Bismarckleed
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Who Put You Here, Bismarck?
The Bismarck Monument in Norden: A Contemporary Perspective
The Bismarck Monument, erected in 1901 in the town of Norden, East Frisia, is in a state of disrepair as of early 2022. This presents a good opportunity to initiate a broader discussion about contemporary monument culture in general—and about the Bismarck Monument in Norden in particular. Should it be removed? Or should it be restored? If so, in what form should this take place? David Gronewold, chairman of the local heritage association Norderland, has brought the concept of critical appreciation into the conversation (Ostfriesischer Kurier, 07.02.22).
The early 20th century was marked by excessive patriotism and political repression, where dissenting opinions were often punished with imprisonment. In Norden im Wandel der Zeiten (Norden Through the Ages, Ufke Cremer, 1955, published by Heinrich Soltau), it states: “Despite all social differences, the overwhelming majority of the population appears to be loyal to the emperor and obedient to the authorities. A bourgeois-conservative upper class dominates political and social life. Symbolic of the spirit of the times is the unveiling of the Bismarck Monument in the town square on May 5, 1901, attended by several hundred local residents and guests, in memory of the Reich Chancellor who died in 1898. The monument was commissioned by a patriotic citizens' committee and the local government, under Mayor Johannes König.”
The song raises questions that remain relevant even today: ‘Bismarck, who put you here? Who truly needs to remember your era? Who still wants to remember you? What values is this monument meant to represent? And shouldn’t others from that period be remembered as well—such as those who suffered under the repressive policies of the imperial regime?’
Original Low German Lyrics
1.
Bismarck, wat deist du hier?
Bismarck, wat steihst du hier?
Bismarck, du steihst hier al völs to lang.
Well hett di hier henstellt? Well will di still sehn,
hett nödig dat Andenken an diene Tied,
stellt di up ’n Steen, so hart as Granit?
2.
Bismarck, dien Tied is um!
Bismarck, du fallst hold um!
Bismarck, du steihst hier al völs to lang.
En Denkmal för de Lü, de dood sünd vandaag,
de du unner dien Foten hullst,
dat so mennig arm Slaav sük neet ückern dürs.
3.
Up d’ Norder Markt, daar steiht en Denkmaal,
wenn ik vörbigah, denn krieg ik tovöl.
Gott mook de See, de Fresen de Dieken,
well hett uns de oll Bismarck henstellt?
4.
Sien Kopp is ut Stahl, sien Foten ut Steen
well haalt de Hamer un gifft hum even een?
Gott mook de See, de Fresen de Dieken,
well hett uns de oll Bismarck henstellt?
5.
Wenn ’t düster word bi Nacht, wenn annern all slapen,
denn passeert d’r wat up d’ Nörder Markt, well steiht daar denn to gapen?
Anner Morgen, wenn d' Sünn upgeiht, keen Spoor is mehr to sehn.
He sitt vull mit rode Farv, elk un een kann ’t sehn.
6.
Man eenes Daags de Mörgen kummt, so haap ik neet allein,
Fürst Bismarck steiht daar neet mehr rum, waar wi hum nu noch sehn.
Man eenes Daags de Morgen kummt, so hoop ik neet alleen,
Fürst Bismarck steiht daar neet mehr rum, waar wi hum nu noch sehn.
English Translation
1.
Bismarck, what are you doing here?
Bismarck, what are you standing here for?
Bismarck, you've been standing here far too long.
Who put you here? Who wants to see you all the time,
needs the memory of your time,
puts you on a stone as hard as granite?
2.
Bismarck, your time is over!
Bismarck, you are about to fall!
Bismarck, you have been standing here far too long.
A monument to those who are dead today,
whom you have suppressed,
that many a poor man was not allowed to rebel.
3.
On the market place in Norden, there is a monument,
when I pass by, it makes me sick.
God created the sea, the Frisians the dikes,
who put old Bismarck there?
4.
His head is made of metal, his feet of stone.
Who'll get the hammer and let him have it?
God created the sea, the Frisians the dikes,
who put old Bismarck there for us?
5.
When it gets dark at night, when others are already asleep,
then something happens on the market place, who stands there and yawns?
The next morning, when the sun rises, no trace can be seen anymore.
He is painted in red color, everyone can see it.
6.
But hopefully the day will come, and I'm not alone in this,
Bismarck won't be there any longer, where we still see him now.
But hopefully the day will come, and I'm not alone in this,
Bismarck won't be there any longer, where we still see him now.
Credits
Mix and Mastering: Stefan Noltemeyer
© + ℗ ruusmusik 2022
