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{{Infobox song |
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'''"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line"''' is a popular song written by Ulster songwriter [[Jimmy Kennedy]], whilst he was a Captain in the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] during the early stages of the [[World War I|First World War]]. The [[Siegfried Line]] was a chain of fortifications along Germany's Western border, analogous to the [[Maginot Line]] in France. The song was used as a morale-booster during the war, particularly up to and during the [[Battle of France]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}} |
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| published = 1939 |
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| genre = [[World War II songs|Second World War song]] |
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| composer = [[Michael Carr (composer)|Michael Carr]] |
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| lyricist = [[Jimmy Kennedy]] |
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}} |
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'''"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line"''' is a popular song by Irish songwriter [[Jimmy Kennedy]], written whilst he was a Captain in the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] during the early stages of the [[World War II|Second World War]], with music by [[Michael Carr (composer)|Michael Carr]]. It was first published in 1939.<ref>{{cite book | last =Rubinstein (ed.) | first =William D. | author-link = | title =The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History | publisher = | series = | volume = | edition = | date = 2011-01-27| location = | page =143 | language = | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=_T_HCg17ufIC&q=%22Maurice+Alfred+Cohen%22&pg=PA143 | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780230304666| mr = | zbl = | jfm = }}</ref> |
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==Background and composition== |
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It began |
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The [[Siegfried Line]] was a chain of fortifications along Germany's Western border, analogous to the [[Maginot Line]] in France. |
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At the first big wartime variety concert organized by [[ENSA]], which was broadcast by the [[BBC]] from [[RAF Hendon]] in north London on 17 October 1939, [[Adelaide Hall]] performed the song accompanied by [[Mantovani]] and his orchestra. A rare [[newsreel]] of this concert exists,<ref>''Mantovani: A Lifetime in Music'' by Colin MacKenzie, page 78: {{ISBN|978-1905226191}}</ref> and the footage is thought to be the earliest surviving film of a performer singing the song. |
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The song was used as a morale-booster during the war, particularly up to and during the [[Battle of France]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}} It began: |
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Have you any dirty washing, mother dear? |
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear? |
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We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line. |
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line. |
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'Cause the washing day is here. |
'Cause the washing day is here. |
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</poem> |
</poem>}} |
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[[Leslie Sarony]] ( |
[[Leslie Sarony]] (1897–1985) and [[Leslie Holmes (comedian)|Leslie Holmes]] added some possibly unofficial lines. The Sarony and Holmes version put "Mother dear, I'm writing you from somewhere in France" at the start and then, after the main section, added four lines starting "Everybody's mucking in and doing their job".<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuetfQ3xQw |title=We're Gonna Hang Out Our Washing On The Siegfried Line |publisher=YouTube |date=2008-02-26 |accessdate=2012-01-08}}</ref> |
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The song was recorded by many British musicians during the Second World War, including [[Arthur Askey]], [[Flanagan and Allen]], and [[Vera Lynn]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MrjGCQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Siegfried+Line%22++recordings&pg=PA98 Sheldon Winkler, ''The Music of World War II: War Songs and Their Stories'', Merriam Press, 2013, p.98]</ref> |
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[[File:194510 PS CS V.jpg|thumb|US Army Signal Corps Photo]] |
[[File:194510 PS CS V.jpg|thumb|The Allies did not conquer the Siegfried Line until 1945. US Army Signal Corps Photo.]] |
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==Parody== |
==Parody== |
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A mocking parody was written shortly after the [[Battle of France]] by a German songwriter, with translated lines that include:<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://ingeb.org/songs/weregoin.html |title=Wir trocknen uns're Wäsche an der Siegfried-Linie |publisher= |date= |accessdate=}}</ref> |
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A mocking parody was written shortly after: |
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{{ |
{{quote|<poem>Yeah, my boy, you thought it would be so easy |
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mit dem großen Wäschetag am deutschen Rhein |
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hast du dir auch deine Hosen richtig vollgemacht, |
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brauchst du garnicht traurig sein! |
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Bald seifen wir dich gründlich ein |
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von oben und von unten her |
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wenn der deutsche Waschtag wird gewesen sein, |
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Mensch, dann brauchst du keine Wäsche mehr! |
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Sing dies Liedchen mit, wer es nur immer singen mag |
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mit der zweiten Kriegsberichterkompanie |
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Bis zum Wäschetag, ja bis zum Wäschetag |
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In aller Herrgottsfrüh. |
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Mein Mädel, schenk' noch einmal ein |
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Und tanzt und trinkt die Gläser leer. |
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Denn wenn der große Waschtag wird gewesen sein |
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Kehr' ich heim, kehr' ich heim übers Meer.</poem>}} |
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{{Lang-en|<poem>Yeah, my boy, you thought it would be so easy |
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At the great Washing Day on the German Rhine. |
At the great Washing Day on the German Rhine. |
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Oh, and you really filled your trousers, didn't you? |
Oh, and you really filled your trousers, didn't you? |
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But you don't need to be so sad! |
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Soon we'll scrub you up very thoroughly |
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From above, and way down below! |
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And when the German Washing Day is over, |
And when the German Washing Day is over, |
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Man, you won't need any more washing. |
Man, you won't need any more washing. |
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</poem>}} |
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Join this little song, that we always sing, |
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In the Second War Reporter Company, |
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From one Washing Day to the next Washing Day, |
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Every day at the crack of dawn. |
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My girl, give us another round |
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And we'll dance and drink the glasses dry. |
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Because when the Great Washing Day is done and gone |
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I'll come home, I'll come home from across the sea.</poem>}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [ |
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E3D91638F934A35757C0A962948260 Jimmy Kennedy's obituary at the ''New York Times'', April 1984] |
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* Three Youtube versions of the song (retrieved on Oct.12th, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuetfQ3xQw |
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* German mocking parody on British Siegfried Line song [http://denizz.110mb.com/music/siegfriedlinedeutsch.php in MP3] |
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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JJEN5lwbBw |
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*[http://ingeb.org/songs/weregoin.html Wir trocknen uns're Wäsche an der Siegfried-Linie] This website has the German words, a slightly different version of the English words and an adapted tune that might [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scan scan] to the German words. |
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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mN8wZB8ae8 |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:1939 songs]] |
[[Category:1939 songs]] |
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[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy]] |
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy]] |
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[[Category:Flanagan and Allen songs]] |
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[[Category:Songs of World War II]] |
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[[Category:Songs about Germany]] |
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[[Category:Songs with music by Michael Carr (composer)]] |
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{{1930s-song-stub}} |
{{1930s-song-stub}} |
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[[de:Wir trocknen unsere Wäsche an der Siegfriedlinie]] |
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[[fr:On ira pendre notre linge sur la ligne Siegfried]] |
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⚫ |
Latest revision as of 21:10, 17 March 2023
"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" | |
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Song | |
Published | 1939 |
Genre | Second World War song |
Composer(s) | Michael Carr |
Lyricist(s) | Jimmy Kennedy |
"We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" is a popular song by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy, written whilst he was a Captain in the British Expeditionary Force during the early stages of the Second World War, with music by Michael Carr. It was first published in 1939.[1]
Background and composition
The Siegfried Line was a chain of fortifications along Germany's Western border, analogous to the Maginot Line in France.
At the first big wartime variety concert organized by ENSA, which was broadcast by the BBC from RAF Hendon in north London on 17 October 1939, Adelaide Hall performed the song accompanied by Mantovani and his orchestra. A rare newsreel of this concert exists,[2] and the footage is thought to be the earliest surviving film of a performer singing the song.
The song was used as a morale-booster during the war, particularly up to and during the Battle of France.[citation needed] It began:
We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear?
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
'Cause the washing day is here.
Leslie Sarony (1897–1985) and Leslie Holmes added some possibly unofficial lines. The Sarony and Holmes version put "Mother dear, I'm writing you from somewhere in France" at the start and then, after the main section, added four lines starting "Everybody's mucking in and doing their job".[3]
The song was recorded by many British musicians during the Second World War, including Arthur Askey, Flanagan and Allen, and Vera Lynn.[4]
Parody
A mocking parody was written shortly after the Battle of France by a German songwriter, with translated lines that include:[5]
Yeah, my boy, you thought it would be so easy
At the great Washing Day on the German Rhine.
Oh, and you really filled your trousers, didn't you?
And when the German Washing Day is over,
Man, you won't need any more washing.
References
- ^ Rubinstein (ed.), William D. (2011-01-27). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. p. 143. ISBN 9780230304666.
{{cite book}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Mantovani: A Lifetime in Music by Colin MacKenzie, page 78: ISBN 978-1905226191
- ^ "We're Gonna Hang Out Our Washing On The Siegfried Line". YouTube. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2012-01-08.
- ^ Sheldon Winkler, The Music of World War II: War Songs and Their Stories, Merriam Press, 2013, p.98
- ^ "Wir trocknen uns're Wäsche an der Siegfried-Linie".
External links
- Jimmy Kennedy's obituary at the New York Times, April 1984
- Three Youtube versions of the song (retrieved on Oct.12th, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuetfQ3xQw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JJEN5lwbBw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mN8wZB8ae8