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ERIKA - GERMAN MARCHING SONG

"Erika" or "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" or "On the Heath a Little Flower Blooms" is a marching song of the German military. The song was composed by Herms Niel in the 1930s, and it soon came into usage by the Wehrmacht, especially the Heer and, to a lesser extent, the Kriegsmarine. The theme of the song is based on "Erika" being both a common German female name and the German word for heather. In itself, the song has no military themes, beyond the fact that the narrator, a soldier, is away from his beloved and recalls her when seeing the plant which has the same name.

ORIGINS
The lyrics and melody of the song were written by Herms Niel, a German composer of marches. The exact year of the song's origin is not known; often the date is given as "about 1930," a date that, however, has not been substantiated. The song was originally published in 1938 by the publishing firm Louis Oertel in Großburgwedel. It was a great success even before the start of World War II.  Niel, who joined the NSDAP in early May 1933 and became a leading Kapellmeister at the "Reichsarbeitdienst", created numerous marches that largely served the National Socialist propaganda campaigns. In particular the "Reichspropagandaminister" Joseph Goebbels, noticed early that down-to-earth, simple songs were a useful propaganda tool.

LYRICS
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
Und das heißt: Erika
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein
Wird umschwärmt Erika
Denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit,
Zarter Duft entströmt dem Blumenkleid
Denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit,
Zarter Duft entströmt dem Blumenkleid
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
Und das heißt: Erika

In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein
Und das heißt: Erika
Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein
Und mein Glück, Erika
Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht,
Singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
Und das heißt: Erika

In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein
Und das heißt: Erika
Schon beim ersten Morgengrau'n sowie beim Dämmerschein
Schaut's mich an, Erika
Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut:
Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?
In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
Und das heißt: Erika



ENGLISH LYRICS
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika.
Eagerly a hundred thousand little bees,
swarm around Erika.
For her heart is full of sweetness,
a tender scent escapes her blossom-gown.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika.

Back at home, there lives a little maiden
and she's called Erika.
That girl is my faithful little darling
and my joy, Erika!
When the heather blooms in a reddish purple,
I sing her this song in greeting.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika.

In my room, there also blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika.
Already In the grey of dawn, as it does at dusk,
It looks at me, Erika!
And then it's to me as if it's saying aloud:
"Are you thinking of your fiancée?"
Back at home, a maiden weeps for you
and she's called Erika.

AFRIKAANS LYRICS
Op die heide bloei 'n mooie blommetjie
en haar naam: Erika
Sy is myne ja behoort aan my
Net aan my: Erika
Want haar hart is vol van soetigheid
'n heerlike geur kom van daardie blommetjie

Op die heide bloei 'n mooie blommetjie
en haar naam: Erika
In my kamer blom ook nou 'n blommetjie
en haar naam: Erika
Smôrens vroeg en sawens as die skadu's daal
Sien sy my: Erika
en dan is dit of sy my wil sê:
Dink jy aan jou bruidjie ver van hier
In my tuisdorp wag vir my 'n meisie mooi
en haar naam: Erika


The videos I used here are from the following Youtube channels:



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