# Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen

Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen is an interwar-era German marching song. Composed around the 1920s, the lyrics of the song are sourced from the poem Ich bin der arme Konrad by the Bavarian poet and artillery officer Heinrich von Reder (1824–1909). The melody of the song is arranged by German songwriter and later National Socialist Fritz Sotke (1902–1970) in 1919. As a song about the German Peasants' War, the song lyrics are noted for their strong anti-clerical and anti-noble themes.

## History

The song's title (translates. "We are Geyer's Black Bunch") and lyrics are references to Florian Geyer (1490 – 10 June 1525) and his Black Company, a heavy cavalry unit which fought on the side of the Peasants during the German Peasants' War. Geyer's Black Company was notorious with his contemporaries for their destruction of cathedrals, castles, and summary executions of clerics and noblemen. The song's lyrics capitalise on this notoriety, with references to the actions of the Black Company: "Setzt aufs Klosterdach den Roten Hahn!" ("Raise the red rooster [flames] upon the Cloister Roof!").
As a song composed within the broader context of the Weimar Republic-era German Youth Movements, the song was sung by many different political groups across the political spectrum. The song is notable for its inclusion in both the official songbooks of the German Nazi Party, as well as the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic.
In the modern-day, Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen remains a popular song performed by various German music groups. Depending on the specific arrangement and performer, the lyrics of the song may be altered or weakened. Common substitutions include replacing the "Cloister Roof" with a simple "Knight's Roof", or even omitting certain lines entirely (e.g. "Des Edelmannes Töchterlein, heia hoho, soll heute uns’re Buhle sein").
Notably, the antepenultimate line of the song's final stanza ("Unsre Enkel fechten's besser aus") is inscribed on a memorial commemorating the 1525 German Peasants' War and the 1945 German Land Reform, in Osterhausen near Eisleben, Saxony-Anhalt. The oath "Our grandchildren will fight a better fight," was seemingly fulfilled generations later, in the eyes of the memorial's designers.

## Lyrics and translation

Note that depending on the specific performer and arrangement, there may be differences in the lyrics.
Lyrics :
| German | English, in translation | As sung by Bill Berry |
| Wir sind des Geyers schwarzer Haufen, Hei a ho ho! Und wollen mit Tyrannen raufen, Hei a ho ho! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Wir wolln's dem Herrn im Himmel klagen Kyrieleis! daß wir die Pfaffen nicht dürfen totschlagen Kyrieleis! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Als Adam grub und Eva spann, Kyrieleis! Wo war denn da der Edelmann? Kyrieleis! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Jetzt geht's auf Schloß, Abtei und Stift, Heia hoho! uns gilt nichts als die Heilge Schrift, Heia hoho! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Uns führt der Florian Geyer an, Trotz Acht und Bann! Den Bundschuh führt er in der Fahn, Hat Helm und Harnisch an! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Bei Weinsberg setzt' es Brand und Stank, Heia hoho! Gar mancher über die Klinge sprang, Heia hoho! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Des Edelmannes Töchterlein, Kyrieleis! Wir jagen sind die Höll hinein, Kyrieleis! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! Geschlagen ziehen wir nach Haus, Heia hoho! Unsre Enkel fechten's besser aus, Heia hoho! Spieß voran, drauf und dran, Setzt aufs Klosterdach den roten Hahn! | We are the Geyer's Black Host, Hiya ho ho! And we want to scuffle with tyrants Hiya ho ho! Spears Advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! We want to complain to God in Heaven Lord, have mercy! That we can't beat the priests to death, Lord, have mercy! Spears advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! When Adam plowed and Eve spun, Lord, have mercy! Where was then the nobleman? Lord, have mercy! Spears advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! Now we're 'gainst the fort, abbey, and church, Hiya ho ho! We keep no vows but the Holy Script Hiya ho ho! Spears advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! We're led by Florian Geyer, Despite being outlaws! The Bundschuh he carries upon his flag Wears helmets and armor! Spears advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! By Weinsberg we gave 'em fire and stench, Hiya ho ho! Many a man was put to the blade, Hiya ho ho! Spears advance! forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! The nobleman's little daughter, Lord have mercy! We'll send her straight back to hell, Lord have mercy! Spears advance! Forward march! Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! Beaten, we drag ourselves back home Hiya ho ho! Our grandchildren will fight a better fight Hiya ho ho! Spears advance! Forward march, Raise the red flames upon the cloister roof! | Troops of Geyer clad in black are we Heia o-ho And we will stamp out tyranny Heia o-ho Chorus Spearmen ho! Forward go! On the castle roof let the Red Cock crow Spearmen ho! Forward go! On the castle roof let the Red Cock crow When Adam dug and Eve did toil Heia o-ho No princes trespassed on their soil Heia o-ho Bold Geyer's men their arrows shoot The knights are laid low His banner bears a peasant's boot To stamp out the foe The noble's only God is pride Heia o-ho The Holy Scripture is our guide Heia o-ho We're beaten though our cause is right Heia o-ho Our sons will carry on the fight Heia o-ho |