LL-L "Literature" 2005.05.15 (09) [D/E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 15.MAY.2005 (09) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: Ingmar Roerdinkholder <ingmar.roerdinkholder at WORLDONLINE.NL>
Subject: LL-L "Literature" 2005.05.15 (01) [E]

In the modern (?) version of this song, still taught at kindergartens in
the Netherlands, it says:

Witte zwanen, zwarte zwanen
wie gaat er mee naar Engeland varen
Engeland is gesloten
De sleutel is gebroken
is er dan geen smid in 't land
die de sleutel maken kan?

White swans, black swans
Who's going to sail to England with us
England is closed
The key has broken
Isn't there a smith in the country
Who can repair/manifacture the key?

I recall to have read or heard an explanation that
in this song, <Engeland> would be <Engel-land> originally,
i.e. the Land of Angels, and that it is about the afterworld,
the other side, the land of the dead actually.
And that land is closed, there is no key to it...

Ingmar

>From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong <Dutchmatters at comcast.net>
>Subject: LL-L "Games" 2005.05.14 (04) [E/German]
>
>Hi Lowlanders,
>
>It took me some time but I pried a game song from the petrified gray
>matter:
>It goes as follows:
>Varen, Varen, Wiedewiede Waren.
>Wie gaat er mee naar Engeland varen.
>Engeland is gesloten,
>De sleutel is gebroken,
>Is er dan geen Engelsman,
>Die die sleutel maken kan.
>
>This is also a very old one dating back to 1667 when the Dutch Navy
>blockaded the South East Coast of England during the second Anglo Dutch
>war. I do not remember what we did while singing this ditty, but falling
>down in a heap and giggling seems to be a likely candidate.
>>Traveling, traveling, merchandize far and wide.
>Who will join us on our voyage to England?
>England is all but closed up.
>The key is all but broken.
>Isn't there an Englishman
>That can make the key?

---------

From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong <Dutchmatters at comcast.net>
Subject: LL-L "Literature" 2005.05.15 (01) [E]

Oops, Just to show you that my memory is not what it has been. What
Memory?? I just became aware that I gave you the wrong first two lines.
They must read-- Witte Zwanen, Zwarte Zwanen
Wie gaat er mee naar Engeland varen'''
I do not know whether the white swans and the black swans have any
historical significance. May be heraldic?

The other two lines probably are derived from:
Wagen, wagen, wiedewiede wagen,
Jan kwam thuis om een boterham te vragen
Vader was niet thuis, Moeder was niet thuis,
Piep zei de muis in het voorhuis.

I have no idea where this one originated either.

Thanks for the translation Ron, Jacqueline

==============================END===================================
Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l")
are  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================