Es führt über den Main – a dance macabre
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Dancing and singing the people cross a bridge… You would think ’what a nice a happy song’ but no this folksong has its origin in the middle ages and is the sung variation of a dance macabre (Totentanz). The bridge symbolizes the connection between life and death. Every person may it be a king, a girl a beggar or a carter must cross this bridge. Everybody is equal in death. But although this dance macabre is a reminder that everybody will die, it is on the other hand meant as a comfort, because in death all people will dance, and pain and sorrow will go away.
The song and how it is sung today reaches back to a composition from Felicitas Kuckuck who was a student of the famous composer Paul Hindemith. The bridge it refers to shall be in Frankfurt.
The verses are poetic and archaic, and my translation is only to get the context (I am sorry, my English is not good enough)
There is a bridge over the river Main, a bridge made of stone, who wants to cross it must turn in dance, Falalalala Falalala…
There comes a wagoner, who has a heavy load, his steeds are three and they dance past, Falala…
There comes a girl alone on the bridge of stone, she gathers her skirt and she dances like the wind, Falala…
There comes a young lad without shoes and in rags, as he sees the brigde, hey how he dances on, Falalala…
And the king in person, descends from his throne, barley touching the plank he turns in a menuett, Falalala…
All people come and break the bridge asunder! And they swing the axes while dancing on, Falala….
All people in the country hurry along. But please stay away from the bridge, because we so love to dance, Falalala…
There is a bridge over the river Main, a bridge made of stone, and we grab our hands and we dance without end, Falalalalala…
Es führt über den Main (deutsch)
Es führt über den Main, eine Brücke von Stein, wer darüber will geh’n, muss im Tanze sich dreh’n. Fa-la-la-la-la, fa-la-la-la-la
Kommt ein Fuhrmann daher, hat geladen gar schwer, seiner Rösser sind drei, und sie tanzen vorbei. Fa-la-la…
Kommt ein Mädchen allein, auf die Brücke von Stein, fasst ihr Röckchen geschwind, und sie tanzt wie der Wind. Fa-la-la…
Kommt ein Bursch ohne Schuh, und in Lumpen dazu, als die Brücke er sah, hei wie tanzte er da. Fa-la-la…
Und der König in Person, steigt herab von seinem Thron, kaum betritt er das Brett, tanzt er gleich Menuett. Fa-la-la…
Liebe Leute, herbei, schlagt die Brücke entzwei! Und sie schwangen das Beil, und sie tanzten derweil. Fa-la-la…
Alle Leute im Land kommen eilig gerannt. Bleibt der Brücke doch fern, denn wir tanzen so gern. Fa-la-la…
Es führt über den Main, eine Brücke von Stein, und wir fassen die Händ und wir tanzen ohn´ End´. Fa-la-la…