Das Todaustreiben

"Das Todaustreiben"
The page from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (1806, I) with the text of the song
Song
Language	German
English title	Driving out Death
Published	not later than 1570
Genre	Folk
Songwriter(s)	Traditional

"Das Todaustreiben" (Driving out Death) is an old German song named after a folk wont from the Middle Ages.

History

First time the song had been mentioned in the sources not later than 1570. It was included into "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (DKW, a German folklore collection, 1806, I). An older Protestant song underlies the version published by A. von Arnim and C. Brentano.

As wrote a researcher of DKW, its authors cleant their text from any confessional features. The poets left all original verses save the last one which contains a Protestant prayer.

Inwit of the Christian and Pagan traditions

The folk wont of Driving out Death in Moravia.

The song is based on an old Pagan wont of Driving out Death. The Christians considered the latter as Antichrist, who was to be oust, to free the way for the Saviour.

That holiday has been held in many lands (such as Silesia, Thuringia, Franconia) for ages. The wont of Driving out Death (also known as Driving out Winter) meant the struggle against Winter and the following awakening of Earth in Spring.

Words

German

English

So treiben wir den Winter aus, Durch unsre Stadt zum Tor hinaus, Mit sein' Betrug und Listen, Den rechten Antichristen. Wir stürzen ihn von Berg und Tal, Damit er sich zu Tode fall', Und uns nicht mehr betrüge Durch seine späten Züge. Und nun der Tod das Feld geräumt, So weit und breit der Sommer träumt, Er träumet in dem Maien Von Blümlein mancherleien. Die Blume sproßt aus göttlich Wort Und deutet auf viel schönern Ort, Wer ist's, der das gelehret? Gott ist's, der hat's bescheret.

Drive out Winter with her hate, Drive out from the town gate, With all her wiles and twisters, True Antichrist and trickster. We hunted her by hill and dale, To make the robber breathe away: Thou canst no longer swindle With all thy frosts and windfalls! And now Death has left the fields, And now Summer spreads the wings, While dreaming of the blossom In May, still mud and earthen. By th'word of God, the summer bloom Could climb a stone in the gloom. Who has that sprout risen? The Lord, the Earth to brighten.