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Ein Mann geht nicht unter
Last updated: 11.10.23
Ein Mann geht nicht unter, which can be heard on Seeräuber Report, came into my repertoire at the behest of Manfred Eichholz of the The Vegesack Whalermen. The song was written by Heinz Gietz (music), Fritz Graßhoff (lyrics) and sung by German actress Ingrid van Bergen.
The song starts off with a cry from the heart: Stinkende Planken - elendes Wrack (Stinking planks and a lousy wreck!) and goes on with the strident message of a man's fate is in his own hands no matter how serious the current situation. Even if on the gallows with a noose round your neck it is up to you to tear it off! The final verse of :
Denk an die 'Dragon', an Silver und Flint
Wie die vor die Hunde gegangen sind
Jack hängt in New Port, Warley am Kap
Das waren Versager - die waren zu schlapp
reminds us of the fate of Jack Rackham aka Calico Jack (see the same-named song Das Hosenlied vom Calico Jack) who was hanged at Port Royal. The Dragon is possibly Sir Francis Drake, Silver and Flint are most likely to be the fictitious Long John Silver and Captain Flint. Whoever Warley was Weißt der Henker! An educated guess is a misspelling and/or mispronunciation of Richard Worley, an American Caribbean pirate who was hanged probably in Jamestown, Virginia. Whatever - as the song goes they were all losers and all too lazy!
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
cd15.gif Various Artists Seeräuber Report flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif
     Title Performer Composer
       
youtube15.jpg Ein Mann geht nicht unter (2:16) Günter Pfitzmann