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1.
The miner, in his simple black clothes,
Walks silently through life, no-one notices him.
In the depths of the mine shaft, he struggles with poverty,
And sometimes does not even earn enough for his daily bread.
But he looks up at the sky contentedly,
And shouts his 'Glück auf!' happily from the shaft.
2.
The miner takes a treasure from the earth,
And goldsmiths make a crown of it.
The prince wears his crown in splendour,
The poor miner is forgotten by all.
Prince, who would bring you your crown,
If the miner were not at the bottom of the deepest shaft?
3.
Bride, does your ring fit your finger as it should?
A heart full of rubies as red as blood!
A ring on the finger has power to bind.
Who brings you gold and rubies from the mine?
Bride, where would you get your wedding ring from,
If the miner were not at the bottom of the deepest shaft?
4.
Now the human spirit moves throughout the world by the power of steam,
The iron horse is fed with coal.
Coal, as black as the miner's clothes,
Links us all with people in far-off countries.
Man, where would you get your miraculous strength,
If the miner were not at the bottom of the deepest shaft?
5.
Pay homage, therefore, to the miners,
Their name must always be spoken with esteem,
And if death closes their eyes,
Eternal rest replaces the mine shaft.
And if a grave in the cemetery welcomes them,
The Lord calls, miner, rise, 'Glück auf!'
(alternative last lines:
'The Lord calls, miner, rise, my son,
Take divine payment for your work!')
In 1978, the author of the 'History of Schneeberg', Hans Michael Voelckel, called the text of a miners' song given to him by the pensioned miner Alois Pfitscher (also known as Luis Locher) 'The Schneeberg Miners' Song'. It was often played and sung at Schneeberg and Ridnaun and, thanks to its moving text and simple melody, became a sort of miners' hymn, although it actually comes from the large industrial centres of Germany and is well-known throughout German-speaking areas. In particular, the fourth verse, which is probably more recent than the others, shows a link with the Industrial Revolution in its reference to coal mining in the mid-19th century. After the large-scale movements of workers among the Central European mines, the song spread rapidly and local variations in music and text arose. In any case, still today the Schneeberg version is touching, criticizing as it does earthly injustice towards the miners. But, without false modesty, is also reveals the miners' awareness of their key position in European economy, even in the Middle Ages.
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history of mining on Schneeberg
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