Folk Songs

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Was Kommt Dort Von der Höh?
What Comes There from on Yonder
?

German student song

Was kommt dort von der höh is a jovial German student song that is sung by upper-classmen in a bantering ritual to receive the first year students. The new students, called foxes because of their wariness and apprehension, are led to the waiting group of students by the Foxmajor, a senior classman who acts as guide for the freshmen. When all have gathered together, everyone celebrates with drinking and smoking, the upper classmen being sure to instruct the new foxes on how to properly make merry.

Formally compiled in the 19th century, this song is believed to have existed as early as the 1700's.


Listen to Was Kommt Dort Von der Höh

Lyrics:


(Studenten)
Was kommt dort von der höh'?
Was kommt dort von der höh'?
Was kommt dort von der ledern' höh'?
Ça, ça, ledern' höh',
Was kommt dort von der höh'?

Es ist der Fuchsmajor,
Es ist der Fuchsmajor,
Es ist der ledern' Fuchsmajor,
Ça, ça, Fuchsmajor,
Es ist der Fuchsmajor.

Was bringt der Fuchsmajor?
Was bringt der Fuchsmajor?
Was bringt der ledern' Fuchsmajor?
Ça, ça, Fuchsmajor,
Was bringt der Fuchsmajor?

Er bringt uns seine füchs',
Er bringt uns seine füchs',
Er bringt uns seine ledern' füchs',
Ça, ça, ledern' füchs',
Er bringt uns seine füchs'.

(Fuchs)
Ihr Diener, meine herr'n,
Ihr Diener, meine herr'n,
Ihr Diener, meine hohe herr'n,
Ça, ça, hohe herr'n,
Ihr Diener, meine herr'n!

(Foxmajor)
Ich bring' euch meine füchs',
Ich bring' euch meine füchs',
Ich bring' euch meine ledern' füchs',
Ça, ça, ledern' füchs',
Ich bring' euch meine füchs'.

(Studenten)
Raucht auch der fuchs tabak,
Raucht auch der fuchs tabak,
Raucht auch der ledern' fuchs tabak,
Ça, ça, fuchs tabak,
Raucht auch der fuchs tabak?

(Foxmajor)
Ein wenig meine herrn,
Ein wenig meine herrn,
Ein wenig meine hohe herrn
Ça, ça, hohe herrn
Ein wenig meine herrn

(Studenten)
So steck' er sich ein's an,
So steck' er sich ein's an,
So steck' er sich ein's ledern an,
Ça, ça, ledern an,
So steck' er sich ein's an!

(Foxmajor)
O weh, wie wird ihm schlecht,
O weh, wie wird ihm schlecht,
O weh, wie wird ihm ledern schlecht,
Ça, ça, ledern schlecht,
O weh, wie wird ihm schlecht!

So kotz' er sich 'mal aus,
So kotz' er sich 'mal aus,
So kotz' er sich 'mal ledern aus,
Ça, ça, ledern aus,
So kotz' er sich 'mal aus.

Jetzt ist ihm wieder wohl,
Jetzt ist ihm wieder wohl,
Jetzt ist ihm wieder ledern wohl,
Ça, ça, ledern wohl,
Jetzt ist ihm wieder wohl.

(Studenten)
So wird der fink ein fuchs,
So wird der fink ein fuchs,
So wird der ledern fink ein fuchs,
Ça, ça, fink ein fuchs,
So wird der fink ein fuchs.

English translation:


(Students)
What comes there from on yonder?
What comes there from on yonder?
What comes there from on bloody yonder?
Sa, sa, bloody yonder,
What comes there from on yonder?

It is the Foxmajor,
It is the Foxmajor,
It is the bloody Foxmajor,
Sa, sa, Foxmajor,
It is the Foxmajor.

What brings the Foxmajor?
What brings the Foxmajor?
What brings the bloody Foxmajor?
Sa, sa, Foxmajor,
What brings the Foxmajor?

He brings us his foxes,
He brings us his foxes,
He brings us his bloody foxes,
Sa, sa, bloody foxes,
He brings us his foxes.

(Foxes)
At your service my gentlemen,
At your service my gentlemen,
At your service, my noble gentlemen,
Sa, sa, gentlemen,
At your service my gentlemen.

(Foxmajor)
I bring you my foxes,
I bring you my foxes,
I bring you my bloody foxes,
Sa, sa, bloody foxes,
I bring you my foxes.

(Students)
And does this fox smoke tobacco?
And does this fox smoke tobacco?
And does this foxes smoke bloody tobacco?
Sa, sa, fox tobacco,
And does this fox smoke tobacco?

(Foxmajor)
A little, my gentlemen,
A little, my gentlemen,
A little, my noble gentlemen,
Sa, sa, gentlemen,
A little, my gentlemen.

(Students)
So, put him to do it,
So, put him to do it,
So put him bloody to do it,
Sa, sa, bloody to do it,
So, put him to do it.

(Foxmajor)
Oh woe, he does it so poorly,
Oh woe, he does it so poorly,
Oh woe, he does it so bloody poorly,
Sa, sa, bloody poorly,
Oh woe, he does it so poorly.

That he became sick all over,
That he became sick all over,
That he became bloody sick all over,
Sa, sa, bloody all over,
That he became sick all over,

But now, he is well again,
But now, he is well again,
Sa, sa, bloody well again,
But now, he is bloody well again,
But now, he is well again.

(Students)
Thus, the finch becomes a fox,
Thus the finch becomes a fox,
Thus, the bloody finch becomes a fox,
Sa, sa, finch a fox,
Thus, the finch becomes a fox.


Sheet music for the Fox Song



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