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“Zehn Orks” (“Ten Orcs”) is the song by German medieval folk band “Die Streuner” from their album “Gebet Eines Spielmanns” (2002). The text is based on Jewish song “Tsen Brider” (Yiddish for “Ten Brothers”) first documented in 1901 in St. Petersburg, Russia. However, it is also obviously based on 19th century American counting song “Ten Little Injuns” also known under politically incorrect title “Ten Little Niggers” which was used in the famous Agatha Christie's novel of the same name (1939, renamed to “And Then There Were None” one year later for publication in USA). One of the early 19th century Russian translations of original songs transformed it into “Ten Jews”. US original has story told from 3rd person perspective, while Jewish one is sung from 1st person. Jewish versions vary from humorous to absolutely grim where all of brothers die in concetration camp, also they introduced chorus part sung by number of singers corresponding to remaining brothers.
The song is sung in broken German implying Orcs' bad grammar, but also features pronunciations mimicking Yiddish, which together lead to diffences in texts presented in various lyrics archives. The version by “Die Streuner” is based on more funny variant of the text, e.g. the last brothers survives (and thus the whole song is performed by him only), but marries non-Jew, and cannot be considered a Jew since then.
German | English |
---|---|
Zehn Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been ten orcs |
Haben wir nit geblieben daheim | We haven't stayed at home |
Haben Elfenstamm getroffen | Have met Elven tribe |
Sennen wir geblieben neun | Let's stay nine |
Neun Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been nine orcs |
Haben wir über Zwerg gelacht | We have laughed at dwarf |
Zwerg der hat nicht mitgelacht | Dwarf haven't laughed along |
Sennen wir geblieben acht | Let's stay eight |
[Chorus:] | [Chorus:] |
Grishnak mit große Hammer | Grishnak with big hammer |
Zorg mit rostig Schwert | Zorg with rusty sword |
Raufen, Saufen, Schnaufen | Brawling, drinking, panting |
Bis sich nichts mehr wehrt | Until nothing fights back |
Oi oi oi oi oi, oi oi oi oi oi | Oi oi oi oi oi, oi oi oi oi oi |
[Repeat lines 3, 4] | |
Acht Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been eight orcs |
Wollten wir Menschenweiber lieben | We wanted to love human women |
Eine sennen Mann gewesen | One was a man |
Sennen wir geblieben sieben | Let's stay seven |
Sieben Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been seven orcs |
Wollten wir reiten auf die Besen von die Hex' | We wanted to ride on the witches' broomsticks |
Mauer dort im Weg gestanden | There was a wall standing in the way |
Sennen wir geblieben sechs | Let's stay six |
[Chorus] | [Chorus] |
Sechs Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been six orcs |
Haben wir ausgezogen unsere Strümpf' | We have taken off our socks |
Einer nit beliftet war | One wasn't aerified |
Sennen wir geblieben fünf | Let's stay five |
Fünf Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been five orcs |
Haben wir getrunken eigen Bier | We have drunken our own beer |
Eins war mit Glykol gepanscht | One was adulterated with glycol |
Sennen wir geblieben vier | Let's stay four |
[Chorus] | [Chorus] |
Vier Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been four orcs |
Haben wir gemacht die Bäume entzwei | We have cut in twain a tree |
Baum san leider Ent gewesen | Alas, the tree was an Ent |
Sennen wir geblieben drei | Let's stay three |
Drei Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been three orcs |
Haben wir gefunden scheenes Ei | We have found a pretty egg |
Mütterchen Drachen ist vorbeigekommen | Mother Dragon was coming to |
Sennen wir geblieben zwei | Let's stay two |
[Chorus] | [Chorus] |
Zwei Orks sennen wir gewesen | We've been two orcs |
Hatten wir zu Essen leider keiner | Alas, to eat we have none |
Als Briderchen geschlafen hat | When little brother fell asleep |
Bin ich mir geblieben einer | I stayed alone |
Ein Ork bin ich mir gewesen | I have been an orc on my own |
Wollt' ich andere Orks zurick | I wanted other orcs back |
Seitdem bin ich auf der Suche | Since then I've been looking |
Nach einen guten F…rau | For a good f…emale |
[Chorus x2] | [Chorus x2] |
For the sake of meter, Nûrlâm version is translated “Nuk honk uruk” (“Ten Orc-brothers”). It cannot be sung exactly to Die Streuner's song. Also some causes of death and numbers were swapped for better rhyme.
Version | Line length | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stance | Chorus | |||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
Zehn Orks | 8 | 8–12 | 7–11 | 7–8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Tsen Brider | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
Nuk Honk Uruk | 6 | 6–9 | 5–8 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Nûrlâm | Gloss | Translation back |
---|---|---|
Nuk honk uruk dak kuz | ||
Daknarirnuz or kîf | ||
Dakhoguz golug-hai | ||
Agh dakirnuz krith | ||
Krith honk uruk dak kuz | ||
Dakgrishuz orn pirishi | ||
Orn thakuzûk ornogsi | ||
Agh dakirnuz skri | ||
[Chorus:] | ||
Grishnâkh sha za bha drang | ||
Agh Zorg sha smaulûrz lag | ||
Gaskat, akrat, fofat | ||
Zi narash hazdat | ||
[Chorus] | ||
[Chorus] | ||
[Chorus] | ||
[Chorus x2] |
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