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Trotz Alledem (1848 version)

Das war ’ne heiße Märzenzeit,
Trotz Regen, Schnee und alledem!
Nun aber, da es Blüten schneit,
Nun ist es kalt, trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem und alledem -
Trotz Wien, Berlin und alledem -
Ein schnöder scharfer Winterwind
Durchfröstelt uns trotz alledem!
 
Das ist der Wind der Reaktion
Mit Mehltau, Reif und alledem!
Das ist die Bourgeoisie am Thron -
Der jetzt noch steht, trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem und alledem -
Trotz Blutschuld, Trug und alledem -
Er steht noch, und er hudelt uns
Wie früher fast, trotz alledem!
 
Die Waffen, die der Sieg uns gab,
Der Sieg des Rechts trotz alledem,
Die nimmt man sacht uns wieder ab,
Samt Kraut und Lot und alledem,
Trotz alledem und alledem,
Trotz Parlament und alledem -
Wir werden unsre Büchsen los,
Soldatenwild trotz alledem!
 
Doch sind wir frisch und wohlgemut
Und zagen nicht trotz alledem!
In tiefer Brust des Zornes Glut,
Die hält uns warm trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem und alledem,
Es gilt uns gleich trotz alledem!
Wir schütteln uns: Ein garst’ger Wind,
Doch weiter nichts trotz alledem!
 
Denn ob der Reichstag sich blamiert
Professorhaft, trotz alledem!
Und ob der Teufel reagiert
Mit Huf und Horn und alledem -
Trotz alledem und alledem,
Trotz Dummheit, List und alledem,
Wir wissen doch: die Menschlichkeit
Behält den Sieg trotz alledem!
 
So füllt denn nur der Mörser Schlund
Mit Eisen, Blei und alledem:
Wir halten aus auf unserm Grund,
Wir wanken nicht trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem und alledem!
Und macht ihr’s gar, trotz alledem,
Wie zu Neapel jener Schuft:
Das hilft erst recht, trotz alledem!
 
Und ob der Prinz zurück auch kehrt
Mit Hurra hoch und alledem -
Sein Schwert is ein gebrochen Schwert,
Ein ehrlos schwert trotz alledem!
Ja doch: trotz all- und alledem,
der Meinung Acht, trotz alledem,
die brach den Degen ihm entzwei
vor Gott und Welt trotz alledem!
 
Nur, was zerfällt, vertretet ihr!
Seid Kasten nur, trotz alledem!
Wir sind das Volk, die Menschheit wir,
Sind ewig drum, trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem und alledem:
So kommt denn an, trotz alledem!
Ihr hemmt uns, doch ihr zwingt uns nicht -
Unser die Welt trotz alledem!
 
Translation

Despite all that

It was a hot March time,
in spite of rain, snow and all that!
But now that it's snowing blosom there
it's cold now, despite eveything!
Despite all of it and everything -
Despite Vienna, Berlin, and all -
A foul sharp winter wind
is chilling us despite it all.
 
That is the wind of reaction
with mildew, frost and all that!
That is the bourgeoisie beside the throne -
which still stands now, despite everything!
Despite everything and all of this -
despite blood guilt, deception and all of this -
it is still standing, and doing a poor job for us,
almost as before, despite all this.
 
The weapons that the win gave us,
the victory of law despite everything,
they are carefully taken away from us again,
along with herbs and tools and all that,
despite all that and everything,
despite parliament and all that -
We'll be without our rifles,
willing soldiers despite everything.
 
Yet we are fresh and cheerful
and don't tremble inspite of all this!
Deep in out hearts anger's glow
keeps us warm despite it all!
despite all this and everything,
it's the same to us despite all that!
We shake ourselves: a nasty wind,
but nothing more despite all that!
 
Then if the Imperial Diet1 has made a fool of itself
academically, despite all that!
And if the devil reacts
with hoof and horn and everything
in spite of all this and all that,
despite stupidity, tickery and all that -
really we know: humanity
keep the victory depite all that!
 
So then, only the mortar fills a throat
with iron and lead ans all that:
We hold out on our own ground,
we don't tremble, despite everything!
Despite everything and despite all!
Add you do it, despite everything, really
like to Naples that blackguard:
that puts right first, despite everything.
 
And if the Prince also comes back
with a high hurrah and all that -
His sword is a broken sword,
a sword without honour despite all that!
Yes, then: despite all and everything
the opinion's carefulness, despite all that,
which broke his sword in two
before God and the world despite all that.
 
Only, what collapses, stand in for it.
Be just a case, despite everything!
We are the people, humanity we,
we're always around, despite everything!
Despite all this and all that:
so come in then, despite all that!
You hinder us, yet you don't compel us -
the world is ours despite all that!
 
  • 1. 1848 was before 1871
The author of translation requested proofreading.
It means that he/she will be happy to receive corrections, suggestions etc about the translation.
If you are proficient in both languages of the language pair, you are welcome to leave your comments.
Comments
Patricia SutcliffePatricia Sutcliffe    Mon, 14/06/2021 - 18:27

You all only represent what collapses!
You all are only a box, despite everything!
We are the people, humanity we,
we're always around, despite everything!
Despite everything and all of that:
so show up, despite everything!
You all hinder us, yet you don't compel us -
the world is ours despite everything!

Here's a stab at the last stanza. It came up in a text I was translating. I think it's important to keep the repetitions as in the original, and to distinguish when the second person plural is being used from the we because the poem is about us vs. them in a way.