Germany

German Notgeld – City of Glatz

In this musical series from the city of Glatz (now Klodzko, Poland – After WWII, Glatz was ceded to Poland and renamed Klodzko) I have tried to come up with a translation of what could be the lyrics to the songs on the backs of this series.  I also tried to find recordings of these songs, but I could find nothing at all. While I did think about playing the music on the reverse, based on the printed notations, I thought that I would spare you all – You’re welcome! 

I’ve tried all my online-translating tools, but I cannot figure out which language/dialect these are in. Below are some guesses, and guesses only.

I’ve tried all my online-translating tools, but I cannot figure out which language/dialect these are in. Below are some guesses, and guesses only.

This series was mentioned in a book by Werner H. Schmack:  Grafschaft Glatzer Notgeld 1914 – 1923  https://www.spata-bonn.de/agg14sch.pdf

In the book, he mentions that this series of notes is (or was at the time) rare in collections and that they had motifs based on “Glatzer Volksliedlein” (“Glatz Folk Songs”) and that these contained verses and sheet music on the back of the notes.

The front design on this Notgeld series is rather bland, but not unattractive.

The reverse images and text are the main draw to this series, which is as follows:

The first verse is:

“Anton schmär an Braatwoan, spõnns Pfaad ei, foar óf Glootz nei”  (Anton complains about tobacco?)

A Frisian translation:  Anton butters the bread, smooths the path, before and after Look at it.

Picture title on the back: Glatzer Volksliedlein (Glatzer Folksongs)

German Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 1 Tobacco Blue - 1921 Back
Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 1 Tobacco Blue -Detail. At first I thought this was a boy with a bowl of porridge, but I can see now that this is a man, Anton, who is smoking a large pipe.

The second: “Mila, Mila, Hippapila, ´s Gänsla weil dich beissa. Niem och´s Gabala, schloo`s of `s Schnabala, `s watt woll wieder weicha”

A High German translation is:  Mila, Mila, Hippapila, the little goose wants to bite you. Take the fork, hit it on the beak, it will go away again.   

Picture title on the back: Glatzer Volksliedlein (Glatzer Folksongs)

German Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 2 Goose - 1921 Back
Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 2 Goose - Detail

Third: “Dreiza, värza Schneider, die wieja fufza Pfónd, on wenn se doas nie wieja, do senn se nie gesónd”

A high German translation reads: Thirteen fourteen tailors weighing fifteen pounds and if they don’t weigh that they aren’t healthy!

Picture title on the back: Glatzer Volksliedlein (Glatzer Folksongs)

German Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 3 Scale - 1921 Back
Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 3 Scale - Detail

And the fourth: “Tridrich, tradrich ich foar óf dr Post, ich foãr óf dr Schneckapost, dóss michs känn Kreizer kóst, tridrich tradrich iech foar óf der Post”

(Tridrich, tradrich (name?) I’m from the post office, I’m from the Snail-mail, so I can do it with Kreizer (name?), tridrich tradrich I’m from the post office.

A High German Translation: “Tridrich, tradrich, I’m going to the post office, I’m going to the snail post office, that can cost me money, tridrich, tradrich, I’m going to the post office.” 

I am guessing that this relies heavily on rhyming nonsense words for tridrich/tradrich, but of course may be entirely wrong.

Picture title on the back: Glatzer Volksliedlein (Glatzer Folksongs)

Notgeld Glatz 25 Pf 4 Snail Blue - Detail

As I stated above, these translations were difficult for me. Perhaps a person who is more familiar with the dialect in this series would be able to translate this more effectively, and I would welcome such input. However, until such a time may come, I do believe that this at least gets us into the ballpark with this series of musical notgeld of Glatzer Folksongs.