Erika (song)

"Erika" (or "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" ("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 first name and the name of the heath plant Erica. In itself, the song has no military themes, beyond the fact that the narrator (evidently a soldier, though this is not explicitly stated) 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 and translation

Calluna vulgaris, "Erika"

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 Blütenkleid. Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein und das heißt: Erika.	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.
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.	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 mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein und das heißt: Erika. Schon beim 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.	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 it is as if it spoke aloud: "Are you thinking of your fiancée?" Back at home, a maiden weeps for you and she's called Erika.

External links

• "Erika", lyrics and recordings, ingeb.org
• "Erika" on YouTube