In German language, there are many wonderful folk songs and little lyrics. I’ve never been very impressed with the dreary English-language birthday song (apparently under copyright too) “Happy Birthday to you”. There’s not much wit or spirit or flair for language in that tired ditty. It’s made its way around the world, in dire local versions.
Fortunately in German, there’s a much better song than “Happy Birthday”. It’s called “How Wonderful that You were Born” (“Wie schön dasss du geboren ist”) by Rolf Zuckowski. We’ve just done a video for our sons’ aunt’s 60th birthday. For that video, I made an English translation as I couldn’t find a good one online. Here is my translation:
Wie schön dass du geboren bistHeute kann es regnen, Wie schön dass du geboren bist, Unsere guten Wünsche bitte bleib noch lange Wie schön dass du geboren bist, Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Wie schön dass du geboren bist, |
How wonderful that you were bornCome rain, snow or storm How wonderful that you were born, Our best Wishes Stay long healthy How wonderful that you were born, Monday, Tuesday, **Wednesday** How wonderful that you were born, |
There’s a lot of work to be done on meter and rhyme still to make a finished song, but the language of this translation offers some of the dignity, simplicity and elegance of Zuckowski’s original. Zuckowski is still alive (long may he still thrive) and is considered Germany’s most successful recording artist. Hence “Wie schön dass du geboren bist” should still be under copyright for public performance or recording.
Image of Rolf Zuckowski with the Elbkinderlandchor in 2015 copyright Frank Schwichtenberg and licensed under the GFDL.