Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart

Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart ("I am the Doctor Eisenbart"), also called Eisenbart-Lied ("Eisenbart Song"), is a folk, student and drinking song written around 1800.[1] It deals with the treatment methods of Johann Andreas Eisenbarth, who is depicted in the song as a quack. There are numerous variations, of which the earliest dateable publication of 1814 comes from the commercial book of the student association Germania from Göttingen.[2] The first publication with melody appeared in 1840.[3] In the 20th century the student song was transformed into a youth and children's song, the melody of which finally also formed the basis for the equally popular "Ein Mann, der sich Kolumbus nannt".[4]

Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart, First print with melody, Berlin 1840

Creation

The humorous song "Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart" was probably written around 1800 by Göttingen students. A popular destination for them was nearby Hann. Münden, the home town and burial place of Johann Andreas Eisenbarth.[1]

The song begins with the verse

Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart,

widewidewitt, bum, bum,
kurier die Leut’ auf meine Art,
widewidewitt, bum, bum.
Kann machen, dass die Blinden geh’n,
widewidewitt, juchheirassa,
und dass die Lahmen wieder seh’n,

widewidewitt, bum, bum.

and has countless other verses that have been added to the original twelve over time.[5]

Dissemination

This song, in turn, inspired various authors to write novels to this day (Agnes Harder, 1897; Josef Winckler, 1928; Otto Weddigen, 1909; Fritz Nölle, 1940; Hanns Kneifel, 2002), plays (for example Otto Falckenberg, 1908), operas (Alfred Böckmann and Pavel Haas) and Nico Dostal's operetta Doktor Eisenbart. The school opera Der Arzt auf dem Marktplatz by Hanna and Siegfried Stolte, written in the 1950s in the GDR, was also based on motifs from the life of Doctor Eisenbarth.[6]

Dutch-language variation

A Dutch-language variation of the song exists too, Ik Ben Doktor Grijzenbaard, removing all references to the real Eisenbart by calling him grijzenbaard (grey beard).[7] In 1978 the Flemish comedy band De Strangers recorded a parody song of Ik Ben Doktor Grijzenbaard, titled Ik Ben Vader Grijzenbaard, which satirized the popularity of Vader Abraham's The Smurf Song, as well as The Muppets.[8][9]

Literature
  • Arthur Kopp: Eisenbart im Leben und im Liede. Berlin 1900 Internet Archive.
  • Arthur Kopp: Neues über den Doktor Eisenbart. In: Zeitschrift für Bücherfreunde 7,1 (1903–1904), S. 217–226 Internet Archive.
  • Paul Mitzschke: Eisenbart, Johann Andreas. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 48, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1904, p. 301–317.

References
  1. "Liederlexikon: Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart". Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  2. "Liederlexikon: Edition A". Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  3. "Liederlexikon: Edition B". Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  4. "Liederlexikon: Edition D". Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  5. "Volksliedsammlung: Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart". Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  6. Arthur Kopp: Neues über den Doktor Eisenbart. In: Zeitschrift für Bücherfreunde 7,1 (1903–1904), p. 217–226 Internet Archive.
  7. https://www.uzleuven.be/sites/default/files/Centraal/Over_ons/Publicaties/uzmagazine/uz-magazine-201606-frieda.pdf
  8. http://www.destrangers.org/v10/txt/arch/disco.html
  9. http://muziekarchief.be/trackdetails.php?ID=70189
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