PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

                                                                 
January 27, 2005

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Deel Leit glaawe ass die Grundsau genaa weess was sie dutt wann sie am zwedde Hanning iwwers Wedder profezeit. Der John Birmelin iss eener devun:


Zum Wedderprofeet:
Grundsau! Grundsau!
Wie iss’s Wedder nau?
Iss der Winder ball verbei;
Odder watt’s noch wieschder sei?

Die Grundsau:
Waardt emoll! Am zwede Hanning
Weis ich dir mei Wedderlanning;
Ya, des weess ich viele besser
Wie die Dokder un Professer!
 


Wann ich aa noch schleefrich bin,
Hawwich’s awwer doch im Sinn,
Neegschde Dienschdaag (Mittwoch) uffzuschteh
Un mol aussem Loch zu geh.
Iss es dann ewennich drieb,
Well, des waer mir graad so lieb;
Schnee un kelt waer dann verbei,
Friehyaahrswedder hett mer glei.
 


Awwer scheint e bissel Sunn,
Bleibt der Winder, weess ich schunn,
Immer noch sex Woche lang,
Un do watt’s mir Angscht un Bang.
Ei, do keemt ich wiescht denewe!
Un was hett ich dann zu lewe?
Kalder Wind un Schnee so dief—
Keemt am End noch uff “Relief.”
 


   Awwer der David B. Brunner (1835-1903) iss eener ass gaar ken Glaawe hot:

Im Friehyaahr saage als die Leit
Die Grundsau waer en Profeet,
Un keemt als aus ihrem Loch zu saage
Wie’s Wedder warre deet.

Die Grundsau weess net mehr vum Wedder,
Un des bin ich gewiss,
Als wie en alder Esel weess
Vun Sunnefinschderniss.

Die Grudsau profezeit net meh
Als wie en aldi Gans,
Un iss en warricklicher Humbug
Vun ihrem Kopp zum Schwans.

Glaabt yuschtnet an die Grundsaugschicht,
Es dutt eich nie net reie;
Sie weess nix vun der Himmelswelt,
Un kann net profezeie!

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

 

Dear people:

   Some people believe that the groundhog knows exactly what it is doing when it prophesizes about the weather on the 2nd of February. John Birmelin is one of those:

To the weather prophet:
Groundhog! Groundhog!
How is the weather now?
Is winter almost over,
Or will is still be uglier?

The Groundhog:
Just wait once! On the 2nd of February
I’ll show you my weather knowledge;
Yes, that’s something I know far better
Than doctors and professors!

Even if I am still sleepy
I nevertheless have in mind
To get up next Tuesday (Wednesday)
And go out of my hole
If it is then a little dreary/cloudy/overcast,
Well, that would suit me just a much;
Snow and cold would then be over,
We’d have spring weather right away.

But if a little sun is shining,
Winter will stay, I know that already,
Still six more weeks,
And I’ll get scared and afraid.
Oh, I’d miss it grossly!
And what would I have to live for?
Cold wind and snow so deep –
In the end I’d go on relief.

   But David B. Brunner (1835-1903) is someone who has no faith/belief at all:

In spring people say
The groundhog is a prophet,
And comes out of its hole to say
How the weather’s going to be.

The groundhog knows no more of the weather,
And I am certain of this,
Than an old mule knows
About an eclipse of the sun.

The groundhog prophesizes no more
That an old goose,
And is a veritable humbug/fake
From its head to its tail.

Just don’t believe in the groundhog story,
You’ll never regret it;
It knows nothing of the heavenly world,
And can’t prophesize!

Take care,
The Old Professor

 
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