“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.

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.

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• Die Streuner – Zehn Orks on YouTube
• Tsen Brider on YouTube (version by Zupfgeigenhansel)
• "And Then There Were None" (Agatha Cristie's novel)
• Analysis of "Tsen Brider" (in German)