{"id":14340,"date":"2018-11-10T23:40:48","date_gmt":"2018-11-11T07:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.german-way.com\/?page_id=14340"},"modified":"2023-11-05T16:11:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T00:11:00","slug":"st-martins-day-songs-lieder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.german-way.com\/history-and-culture\/holidays-and-celebrations\/martinstag-and-st-martin\/st-martins-day-songs-lieder\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Martin’s Day Songs (Lieder)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Martinstag – Kinderlieder<\/h3>\n

Sankt Martin und Martinssingen<\/em><\/strong>
\nAs you learned on our Martinstag and St. Martin<\/a> page, children in parts of Germany observe the traditional German custom of St. Martin’s Day that has a few things in common with Halloween<\/a>. Part of that tradition involves the Martinsumzug<\/em> (St. Martin’s procession) and Martinssingen<\/em> (singing St. Martin songs), in which children go from house to house to collect treats (and\/or money donations for charity) while carrying homemade lanterns and singing St. Martin songs.<\/p>\n

Now including English translations of the German lyrics!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Martinsfeuer,<\/a>

St. Martin on his steed at the Martin’s bonfire on Bonn’s market square. (Der St. Martin hoch zu Ross vor dem Martinsfeuer auf dem Markt in Bonn.)<\/strong> PHOTO: Michael Sondermann (Bundesstadt Bonn)<\/p><\/div>\n

Even in non-Catholic regions, school children in some places in Germany participate in lantern processions and singing St. Martin songs. Below you’ll find the German lyrics to several traditional songs related to the St. Martin celebration. Also see videos (with on-screen lyrics) for some of these songs below.<\/p>\n

St. Martin Songs (Lieder<\/em>)<\/h5>\n

Below you’ll find the original German lyrics for several St. Martin songs. Below the German lyrics we provide a line-by-line English translation. For some songs you’ll also find a video performance.<\/p>\n

Ich gehe mit meiner Laterne<\/strong>
\nRefrain<\/em>:
\nIch geh’ mit meiner Laterne
\nund meine Laterne mit mir.
\nDa oben leuchten die Sterne,
\nhier unten leuchten wir.<\/p>\n

1. Mein Licht ist aus,
\nich geh nach Haus.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nDer Hahn, der kr\u00e4ht,
\ndie Katz’ miaut,
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Ich geh’ mit meiner Laterne
\nund meine Laterne mit mir.
\nDa oben leuchten die Sterne,
\nhier unten leuchten wir.<\/p>\n

2. Mein Licht ist an,
\nich geh voran.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nMein Licht ist sch\u00f6n,
\nk\u00f6nnt ihr es sehn?
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Ich geh’ mit meiner Laterne
\nund meine Laterne mit mir.
\nDa oben leuchten die Sterne,
\nhier unten leuchten wir.<\/p>\n

3. Ich trag mein Licht,
\nich f\u00fcrcht mich nicht.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nSankt Martin hier,
\nwir leuchten dir.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Ich geh’ mit meiner Laterne
\nund meine Laterne mit mir.
\nDa oben leuchten die Sterne,
\nhier unten leuchten wir.<\/p>\n

4. Wie sch\u00f6n das klingt,
\nwenn jeder singt.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nMein Licht geht aus,
\nwir geh’n nach Haus.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

ENGLISH
\nLiteral prose translation by Hyde Flippo<\/em>
\nI Go With My Lantern<\/strong>
\nRefrain<\/em>:
\nI go with my lantern
\nand my lantern with me.
\nUp above the stars shine,
\nDown here we shine.<\/p>\n

1. My light is out,
\nI’m going home.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nThe rooster, he crows,
\nthe cat meows,
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n

2. My light is on,
\nI lead the way.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nMy light is pretty,
\ncan you all see it?
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n

3. I carry my light,
\nI’m not afraid.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nSaint Martin here,
\nwe shine a light for you.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

Refrain<\/em><\/p>\n

4. How nice it sounds,
\nWhen everyone sings.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.
\nMy light goes out,
\nwe’re going home.
\nRabimmel, rabammel, rabumm.<\/p>\n

VIDEO: “Ich geh’ mit meiner Laterne” – with on-screen lyrics<\/strong>
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