OK Stephen, I can translate part of it, but the two lots of song lyrics are in some old German [?Schwützerdütch], so that is more difficult. The title is Nightwatchmen and "Pitchpan" and the text is: In 1859 Chur still had four Tower-watchmen and one Town Trumpeter, who had to sound the trumpet from St Martins steeple at midday. Twelve singing Nightwatchmen had to process through the town and in time with the sounding of the steeple bell had to sing the following verse and call out the "Evening Watch" [the first verse] and [later] the "Morning Watch", the Reveille [lit the calling up of the day]. [then comes the second verse]. Finally it says: On New Year's Night 1877 the old-fashioned Watch-calls sounded for the last time through the alleyways of Chur...
The verses are roughly: I am now walking on the Nightwatch, may God give us all a good night, put out all fires and lights, that the loving God will give us health, [something] has been sounded, that [having been]done is known to you, may God give us all a good hour.
Stand forth in the name of Jesus Christ, the bright day is at hand, the bright day never leads us astray, may God give us all a good day, a good day and a fortunate hour, that I pray to God from my heart's foundation.
3 comments:
OK Stephen, I can translate part of it, but the two lots of song lyrics are in some old German [?Schwützerdütch], so that is more difficult. The title is Nightwatchmen and "Pitchpan" and the text is: In 1859 Chur still had four Tower-watchmen and one Town Trumpeter, who had to sound the trumpet from St Martins steeple at midday. Twelve singing Nightwatchmen had to process through the town and in time with the sounding of the steeple bell had to sing the following verse and call out the "Evening Watch" [the first verse] and [later] the "Morning Watch", the Reveille [lit the calling up of the day]. [then comes the second verse]. Finally it says: On New Year's Night 1877 the old-fashioned Watch-calls sounded for the last time through the alleyways of Chur...
The verses are roughly:
I am now walking on the Nightwatch, may God give us all a good night, put out all fires and lights, that the loving God will give us health, [something] has been sounded, that [having been]done is known to you, may God give us all a good hour.
Stand forth in the name of Jesus Christ, the bright day is at hand, the bright day never leads us astray, may God give us all a good day, a good day and a fortunate hour, that I pray to God from my heart's foundation.
The three clocktowers all sounding midnight at different times was bad enough - thank goodness all THAT finished 120 years ago!
Paul, very many thanks. My german is poor and when came to the 'old words' thought it better to ask for help.
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