Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind
"The Laterne (Lah-tare-nah) Fest is in honor of St. Martin (Mar-teen), a soldier in the Roman army. One very cold day, as he was riding through the gates of a town, Martin saw a beggar shivering with cold as he was wearing only a few clothes. As Martin had no money or food to offer the poor man, he took his thick cloak and cut it into two, giving one half to the man. Some of the poor children of the town witnessed the event and ran back with their lanterns to tell the townspeople. This is how the tradition of a children's processional of lanterns began- in honor of St. Martin and his great act of charity." -Loralee
Sankt Martin ritt durch Schnee und Wind
St. Martin Rode Through Snow and Wind
St. Martin's Day Song
St. Martin's Day Song
(German)
(English)
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
ritt durch Schnee und Wind,
sein Roß, das trug ihn fort geschwind.
St. Martin ritt mit leichtem Mut,
sein Mantel deckt ihn warm und gut.
Im Schnee saß, im Schnee saß,
Im Schnee, da saß ein armer Mann,
hatt' Kleider nicht, hatt' Lumpen an:
"Oh helft mir doch in meiner Not,
sonst ist der bitt're Frost mein Tod!"
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin zieht die Zügel an,
sein Roß steht still beim braven Mann.
St. Martin mit dem Schwerte teilt
den warmen Mantel unverweilt.
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin gibt den halben still,
der Bettler rasch ihm danken will.
St. Martin aber ritt in Eil
hinweg mit seinem Mantelteil.
Sankt Martin legt sich still zur Ruh,
da tritt im Traum der Herr hinzu.
Der spricht: "Hab Dank, du Reitersmann,
für das, was du an mir getan.
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Rode through snow and wind,
On his horse, which carried him quickly away.
St. Martin rode with a light heart,
His cloak kept him good and warm.
In the snow sat, in the snow sat,
In the snow, there sat a poor man,
He didn't have clothes, he wore only rags:
"Oh help me in my distress,
Otherwise the bitter Frost will be my death!"
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin pulls upon the reins,
His horse stands still near the poor man,
Without delay, with his sword St. Martin
Cuts the warm cloak in half.
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin quietly gives up half,
The beggar's intention was to thank him,
St. Martin however was riding away in haste
With half his cloak.
St. Martin lies down quietly to rest,
In a dream the Lord appears.
He says: "Thank you, horseman,
For what you did to me."
Notes
You can hear St. Martin online.
Comments
Here's a translation by Loralee:
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Rode through wind and snow,
His horse carried him so quick-ly on
In comfort and warmth through the cold he did go
His thick cloak around him tight-ly drawn.
In the cold snow, in the cold snow,
In the cold snow, there sat a poor old man
He wore only rags and called with choked breath,
"Oh help me please - please if you can
Or the bitter frost will mean my death."
St. Martin, St. Martin, St. Martin
Reined his horse to his side
It stood quietly by as if it knew
How with his sword, St. Martin would divide
His warm, thick cloak right in-to two.
St. Martin, St. Martin,
Gave one half to the man to put on
The grateful man turned, but before he spoke
Noble St. Martin had already gone
Wearing his half of the div-id-ed cloak.
Saint Martin lay down quietly
And then the Lord appeared in his dream.
The latter talked: "I thank you, you riderman,
For what you did to me"
Many thanks to Loralee Jo Kurzius for sharing this translation.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Loralee Jo Kurzius for contributing this song and for describing the St. Martin's Festival. 1st translation by Lisa Yannucci.
Image: "Saint Martin and the Beggar" by El Greco.
Vielen Dank!
