Es, es, es und es
Es, es, es und es (It, it, it and it)
The Why and the Wherefore
Although technically not a soldier's song, "Es, es, es und es" might have had it's appeal to the lifestyle of the Civil War soldiers. Also called "Seine Arbeit, die gefällt mir nicht" ("I do not like your work"), the song is actually about an apprentice craftsman who is looking for a new place to work. Many of his complaints would have struck a chord with campaigning soldiers, and the song's rhythm can certainly fit a marching tempo. The German version of this song appeared as early as 1826.
What really qualifies this song as a Civil War song are the American lyrics that were written to fit the German melody. The new song was called "The Why and the Wherefore", and addressed a new recruit in the enthusiastic armies of 1861. The song was written anonymously, so we do not know if the new lyrics were actually written by a German-American, or by someone else who simply found the German music catchy. Either way, it proves the popularity of the origimal song, and the new lyrics speak for many of the recruits, German and otherwise, who left for the front in the heady early days of the war.
| Es, es, es und es, es ist ein harter Schluß Weil, weil, weil, und weil, weil ich aus Frankfort muß Drum schlag ich Frankfort aus dem Sinn und wende mich, Gott weiß, wohin. Ich will mein Glück probieren, marschieren. Er, er, er und er, Sie, sie, sie und sie, Er, er, er,und er, Und, und, und, und und und, Ihr, ihr, ihr, und ihr,
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It, it, it and it, It's sad it's ending so, For, for, for and for, For I must leave and go. I've been in this town quite a bit, And I have it up to here with it. I shall try my luck yonder, And wander. He, he, he and he, She, she, she and she, He, he, he and he, And, and, and and and, You, you, you and you,
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THE WHY AND THE WHEREFORE
||: Where, where, where, and where,
And where are you bound young man? :||
"I'm off to the war with the good men and true,
And hadn't you better come along too?
I speak my mind quite freely, now really."
||: Why, why, why, and why,
And why to the war young man? :||
"Did a man ever fight for a holier cause,
Then Freedom and Flag and Equal Laws?
Just speak your mind quite freely, now really."
||:Which, which, which, and which,
And which is the flag of the free? :||
"O Washington's flag, with the stripes and the stars,
Will you give such a name to the thing with the bars?
I speak my mind quite freely, now really."
||: Who, who, who, and who,
And who goes with you to the war?:||
"Ten thousand brave lads, and if they should stay here,
The girls would cry shame, and they'd volunteer!
They speak their mind quite freely, now really."
||: When, when, when, and when,
And when do you think you'll come back? :||
"When Rebellion is crushed and the Union restored,
And Freedom is safe, yes then, please the Lord!
I speak my mind quite freely, now really."
||: What, what, what, and what
And what will you gain by that? :||
"O I've gained enough whatever the cost,
If Freedom, the hope of the world, isn't lost.
I speak my mind quite freely, now really."
Sources:
The English translation of "Es, es, es und es" was written by Sabine Tober, but I do not know when it dates from. I doubt it is Civil War period. It came from the book, Pinkert-Sältzer, Inke, ed. German Songs: Popular, Political, Folk, and Religious. (New York: Continuum, 1997).