AMERIKA LIED - America Bound
A I'm going to sell my house and my bric-a-brac For very little money, And I’m going to set off To another part of the world. When we arrived at Strasbourg A magnificent city, We went to the clerk of the court And presented our papers. Good morning, Clerk We have something to ask of you, You must stamp our passports For we want to leave France. But for what reason And as a result of what Do you want to risk your life To go to visit America? We can live here no longer For we cannot survive. The bailiffs and the lawyers Take from us the largest part. When we arrived at Le Havre, A magnificent town,. They came towards with arms outstetched And welcomed us. Welcome Oh young and beautiful people! We are going to treat you As if you are one of us. .
This emigration song was sung at a festival in 1937 at Fellering, Alsace, France at the home of Albert ETTERLIN a relative of the Olanie family. It expresses the feelings of the emigrants on their way to the USA in the 1860's. The original song was translated from German to French. It was translated into English by Alison Grubb, 1999
B - America Bound Here come the time and the hour, the time and the hour When we are to set off for America - Holdira! The coach is already waiting outside the door: We are going to leave with our wives and children. Look after yourselves, Oh brothers and relations all, We shake your hands for the very last time - Holdira! We have no fears that we’ll have any problems And just think: God is everywhere. And when we arrived in Baltimore - Baltimore, We held up our arms to the sky - Holdira! We cried at the top of our voices: Victory! We’re here in America. And when we entered New York - New York, We booked ourselves into an inn - Holdira! We drank a good bottle of wine And forgot about Alsace - long live Alsace! But once we were in America - America, We soon began to cry - Holdira! For he that made nothing of himself in Europe Shouldn't show interest in coming to America!
This emigration song was sung in 1936 at ODEREN, Alsace, France at the home of Joseph ALMY and also at KRUTH, Alsace, France in 1946 at the home of Justine BLAISE. Both families are related to the OLANIE family. The original song was translated from German to French. The English translation was by Alison Grubb, 1999.
created by Cheryl L. Morgan,
last modified: 19 December 2008