The German Music Song (Ach Von Der Musica; aka The German Doctor)
It appears that there are many, many versions of this
song. In fact, it turns out that I had a version of this song already on
this site: "The German Doctor". I have reprinted the
version I learned at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Geoff Loker, who helped
me find what I think is the oldest (and likely the closest to the original)
version of this song.
Ach Von Der Musica
(source: Boy Scout Campfire Songbook, circa 1950 or so)
(Caller) Ach von de musica.- (all) Deutches Vaderland.
- (Caller) Ach von spieler.
- (all) Ach von spieler.
- (Caller) Ich-en-bee-en-zumba-za.
Chorus:
Zumba, zumba, zumba-za (four
times)
Other Verses:
- piano-la
- piccolo-la
- trumpet-la
Ach Ven de Musica
(Source: "Campfire Songbook", published by the Boy Scouts
of Canada, 1971.)
Here is what I believe might be the original song.
Thanks very much to my friend Christy Stanhope, who lent me the songbook
from which this is printed!
- Leader: Ach ven de musica
- Deutches Faderlander
- Ach von spielen
- All: Ach von spielen
- Leader: Ich-en-bee-en-sumba-za
- All: Zumba, zumba, zumba, za (4 times) (make
an action as though playing a bass fiddle)
Leader: Ach ven de musica- Deutches Faderlander
- Ach von spielen
- All: Ach von spielen
- Leader: Ich-en-bee-en-viola
- All: Vio-vio-viola (4 times) (make an
action as though playing a violin)
- Zumba, zumba, zumba, za (4 times) (make an action
as though playing a bass fiddle)
Other Verses (make up appropriate actions):
- Picolo-la
- Trumpet-ta
- Piano-la
Note: The German verse translates roughly as:
- When the music comes
- From the Fatherland
- There will be fun and games (or something like that)
And here is the song as I learned it:
The German Doctor
(Leader sings one line of the verse, everyone repeats.)
-
I'm a good doctor, come from German-land!
- Yock-von spielen!
- Meta-me a viola!
(everyone) Vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio vio
viola, vio viola, HEY!
I'm a good doctor, come from German-land! - Yock-von spielen!
- Meta-me a piano!
(everyone) Plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka
plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plonk, OH... - Vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio viola,
HEY!
I'm a good doctor, come from German-land! - Yock-von spielen!
- Meta-me a radio!
(everyone) CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CBC,
OH... - Plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plinka plonk,
plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plonk, OH...
- Vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio viola,
HEY!
I'm a good doctor, come from German-land! - Yock-von spielen!
- Meta-me a TV!
(everyone) Soapy soapy soapy sud, soapy soapy
soapy sud, soapy soapy soapy sud, soapy soapy sud, OH... - CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CBC, OH...
- Plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plinka plonk,
plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plonk, OH...
- Vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio viola,
HEY!
I'm a good doctor, come from German-land! - Yock-von spielen!
- Meta-me a leader!
(everyone) Naggy naggy naggy nag, naggy naggy
naggy nag, naggy naggy naggy nag, naggy naggy nag, OH... - Soapy soapy soapy sud, soapy soapy soapy sud, soapy soapy
soapy sud, soapy soapy sud, OH...
- CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CB-CBC, CB-CBC, OH...
- Plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plinka plonk,
plinka plinka plinka plonk, plinka plinka plonk, OH...
- Vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio vio viola, vio viola,
HEY!
Actions:
- German Doctor: hands folded in front of body, bow
- Yock-von schpeilen: stomp foot, flex arm muscles
- Vio-vio-viola: play an imaginary violin
- Plinka-plinka-plinka-plonk: play an imaginary piano
- CB-CB-CBC: two fingers up at each side of head, bend
and straigten in succession
- Soapy soapy soapy sud: window washing action
- Naggy naggy naggy nag: wag finger at other people in
the circle