“Ich bin Soldat” German anti-war song

“Ich bin Soldat, doch ich bin es nicht gerne” is a German folk, soldier and worker song that comes from the socialist workers' movement. The text, first printed in 1870 and often attributed to Max Kegel, is about the meaninglessness and foreign influence of being a soldier and ends with a call for reconciliation between peoples and the overthrow of tyrants.

The melody is that of the popular French song “Te souviens-tu?”, which comes from Joseph-Denis Doche (1766–1825) and was played in Germany, among others. with Karl von Holtei's text “Think of it, my brave Lagienka” and as a student song “Think of it, comrade of happy hours”. The melody of I am a soldier that is used today differs in part from the original.

#geography #history #antiwar #song #germany #germanempire

[FrenchGermanhistorian]

My great grandpa served in the Great War. My grandpa would end stories his dad told him with this song. Brings back memories of late nights on his lap. Good somg

[farii__]

respect to those who refused to fight for the tyrant adolf!

[harryklein]

In the parlance of our times...that slaps.