It was another one of those moments where I wondered if my family was German. But, it was yet another case of family from North Rhine Westphalia vs Midwest German-Americans. While in Wisconsin, I kept seeing a poster for the Schnitzelbank, so I asked, “What is a Schnitzelbank?“. I understand what a Schnitzelbank is. It’s a carving bench, but is it a song? A language learning tool? Something Germans do at Weddings? In recent years, I’ve learned that the “something Germans do” doesn’t always mean all Germans. BUT! I learned a bit more about Schnitzelbank! And this fun silliness goes deeper than just a fun song or poster on the wall at Mader’s in Milwaukee.
(Thanks to Dale for sharing the photos of his Schnitzelbank and for clarifying things for this California German)
What is a Schnitzelbank
As I mentioned, a Schnitzelbank is a workbench that looks something like this->
A Schnitzelbank is a carving bench. There’s a thingie on the front for holding what you are carving held in place by the foot pedal underneath.
(Would you use a chainsaw on a Schnitzelbank? Probably not, but did you know that a German inventor, Andreas Stihl, invented the chainsaw? Weirdly, he based his wood-cutting version on a medical chainsaw. YIKES!)
But what does that have to do with a song?
On the wall of Mader’s Restaurant in Wisconsin and on the walls of many other bars, taverns, German Restaurants, and possibly German School classrooms, you’ll see a poster that looks like this…
(you will note, it’s INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS…)
A Little Schnitzelbank Song History
The lyrics of the song that most people are familiar with are simple, with visual cues and lots of repeats, like a pig next to the words Fette Sau (fat pig) and a pine tree next to the word Tannenbaum (Christmas Tree). While singing the song, a leader points to the images and asks, ‘Is that a Fette Sau?… and the singers respond with ‘Yes, that is a Fette, Sau.’ A call and response that goes back and repeats over and over.
People assume that German-Americans created the song to teach their children the German language. While it does help, and it is used in some schools, the song predates German immigration into America.
According to Dr. William Keel, professor of German Studies at the University of Kansas, the Schnitzelbank dates back in some form to the 1700s and was performed all over Central Europe. A printed example of the song dating to the 1830s was found in Germany, predating the first printed version in the USA by almost 60 years.
Which brings us to the OTHER definition…
Der Schnitzelbank is a performance of a rhyming verse song with humorous content. Basically, it’s a funny rhyming song.
Schnitzelbänkler will perform a Schnitzelbank (aka Schnitzelbangg) around Karneval time. In Basel, Switzerland, active clubs are still performing the Schnitzelbank during the Karneval season. At parties and celebrations, they stand on stage singing songs made up of funny couplets of rhyming verses, and then the song’s verses are repeated over and over (think Twelve Days of Christmas). Usually, they had posters or pictures with them to illustrate the verses. Sometimes, they wore the images on a sandwich board while traveling from Tavern to Kneipe. The songs referred to current events, politics, or they are specifically written for the occasion (like at a wedding).
So, why Schnitzelbank? The name is based on the slang term for joking… to “schnitzel”… combined with “bank,” which is a podium or stage he stands on. There are even PROFESSIONAL Schnitzelbänklers who get paid for writing lyrics! (I bet you wish one had shown up to your school on career day. Your whole life could have been different).
So, for those of you who like to deep dive into etymology
1. die Schnitzelbank- a workbench for carving (schnitzen is to carve, bank is a bench)
2. der Schnitzelbank- a performance, often at Karneval, using pictures or cartoons, often while standing on a bench or stage
Why is this important?
Because the song on the chart goes “Ist das nicht eine Schnitzelbank?”, using correct grammar, EINE refers to the bench. (die Schnitzelbank)
Still, other versions of the song will say, “Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank?”… EIN refers to the performance itself. (der Schnitzelbank)
The singing style was brought to America by German immigrants. And why not? The songs took up zero space in the luggage, and the lyrics are fluid. Forget how it goes? Make up something new! There’s always a politician, current event, or groom that needs a bit of teasing. Schnitzelbank Clubs popped up in areas where Germans settled in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania (taking us back to the old saying, “When three Germans get together, five clubs are formed). Songs were written and performed onstage at theaters for appreciative audiences.
“Ist das nicht eine Schnitzelbank?”
Somewhere along the line in the United States, political satire fell away, and the German love of singing and language instruction merged into a silly song of basic German instruction.
Das ist kurz und das ist lang,
Und das ist die Schnitzelbank.
Das kurz und lang, die Schnitzelbank:
Ei du schöne, ei du schöne, ei du schöne Schnitzelbank.
This is short, and this is long
And this is a Schnitzelbank
The short and long, the Schnitzelbank
Oh you pretty, oh you pretty, oh you pretty Schnitzelbank
Still, the funny part stayed, and the rhyming couplets still poke fun.
A wedding ring next to the dangerous thing? (Which makes me wonder if a different version was taught in German School?)
Ist das nicht ein Hochzeits Ring?
Ja, das ist ein Hochzeits Ring.
Ist das nicht ein gefaerliches Ding?
Ja, das ist ein gefaerliches Ding.
Isn’t this a wedding ring?
yes, this is a wedding ring
Isn’t this a dangerous thing?
Yes, this is a dangerous thing!
This old video from Maders gives you an idea of how it sounds.
The Song… complete with a Poster and a Pointer, became a staple at German-American Festivals and gatherings. I’m told it’s even sung (and acted out!) at weddings (kurz und lang?). So, it becomes a party song?
Like this at the Deutsches Haus
You can enjoy the Schnitzelbank at home!
Can you believe Mader’s used to give away the poster … all you had to do was ask. I wonder where they all went?
Beer Stein German Schnitzelbank Song Beer Mug by E.H.G | .9 Liter
Beer Stein German Song Lidded Beer Mug by E.H.G | .9 Liter
RARE Vintage SCHNITZELBANK DRINKING SONG TRAY Made in Japan!!
Bring the Song HOME with You!
OH YOU SWEET ONE (The New Schnitzelbank Song)Schnitzelbank
All the Lyrics
Want to sing along with the poster?? The lyrics go like this…
Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank?
Ja, das ist ein Schnitzelbank.
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein kurz und lang?
Ja, das ist ein kurz und lang.
Ist das nicht ein hin und her?
Ja, das ist ein hin und her.
hin und her,
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein kreuz und quer?
Ja, das ist ein kreuz und quer.
Ist das nicht ein Schiess Gewehr?
Ja, das ist ein Schiess Gewehr.
Schiess Gewehr,
kreuz und quer,
hin und her,
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein Wagen Rad?
Ja, das ist ein Wagen Rad.
Ist das nicht ein krumm und grad?
Ja, das ist ein krumm und grad.
krumm und grad,
wagen rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein grosses Glas?
Ja, das ist ein grosses Glas.
Ist das nicht ein Ochsen Blas?
Ja, das ist ein Ochsen Blas.
Ochsen Blas
Grosses Glas
krumm und grad,
Wagen Rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein haufen Mist?
Ja, das ist ein haufen Mist.
Ist das nicht ein Schnickelfritz?
Ja, das ist ein Schnickelfritz.
Schnickelfritz
Haufen Mist
Ochsen Blas
Grosses Glas
krumm und grad,
Wagen Rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
Kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein dicke Frau?
Ja, das ist ein dicke Frau
Ist das nicht ein fette Sau?
Ia, das ist ein fette Sau.
Fette Sau
Dicke Frau
Schnickelfritz
Haufen Mist
Ochsen Blas
Grosses Glas
krumm und grad,
Wagen Rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
Kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein langer Mann?
Ja, das ist ein langer Mann
Ist das nicht ein Tannenbaum?
Ja, das ist ein Tannenbaum.
Tannenbaum
Langer Mann
Fette Sau
Dicke Frau
Schnickelfritz
Haufen Mist
Ochsen Blas
Grosses Glas
krumm und grad,
Wagen Rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
Kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Ist das nicht ein Hochzeits Ring?
Ja, das ist ein Hochzeits Ring.
Ist das nicht ein gefaerliches Ding?
Ja, das ist ein gefaerliches Ding.
Gefaerliches Ding
Hochzeits Ring
Tannenbaum
Langer Mann
Fette Sau
Dicke Frau
Schnickelfritz
Haufen Mist
Ochsen Blas
Grosses Glas
krumm und grad,
Wagen Rad,
Schiess Gewehr,
Kreuz und quer,
hin und her
kurz und lang,
Oh du schoene Oh du schoene
Oh du schoene Schnitzelbank
Hab ich noch nie gehoert, aber man lehrn ja immer etwas dazu.
You did a great job, loved it very much, thanks
We used to sing this in my grandfather Robert Mueller’s basement in Milwaukee whenever my family gathered. That would have been probably 70 years ago! The melodies on this site are familiar to me from that time. Thank you for the cultural retrospective.
Searching for the Schnitzelbank song and discovering Karen’s site was Fröhliche Web Wandering indeed!
That my search was prompted by seeing (on YouTube) a 1970s TV commercial for Radio Free Europe (the kid with chains and a padlock on his head, reciting the party line) indicates the range of possibilities and pitfalls of learning by recitation.
In high school German class long ago we boys were especially appreciative of “haufen mist.” If more people today were familiar with the song, that line would be among the most useful. On the other hand, I’d like to test the usefulness of its diminished familiarity in my next comment in The New York Times. You will note that the NYT is INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS, so German-speaking readers (and German-reading speakers?) may find the “mist” a bit off-color. Sadly, though, I fear the acceptance or rejection of the word by the moderators will depend more upon the content of my comment than upon the (off-) color (-ness) of my syn (tax).
Maybe I should play it safe and stick with “Ist das ja ein Him und Her?”
My cousins took me to Mader’s by the way. Thinking myself cosmopolitan I ordered the Schnitzel Blanc. With a Hefeweisen Cosmopolitan. My cousins wouldn’t have it, and called me on my…umm…Kuhmißte.
Believe it or not, we learned this in Elementary school! Our school district’s High School German teacher taught it to us, along with hand gestures that she made up. I grew up in a mostly German/Wendish/Czech/Polish community in Fayette County, Texas. Fond memories!
Disney’s Big Bad Wolf (in a German accent), answered by his 3 naughty little wolf nephews:
Ist das nicht ein Sausage Meat? Ja, das ist ein Sausage Meat!
Ist das nicht ein Pigsen’s Feet? Ja, das ist ein Pigsen’s Feet!
Ist das gut for Schweiner Stew? Das ist gut for Schweiner Stew!
[Referring to the tail] Ist das nicht ein Curly Kew? Ja, das ist ein Curly Kew!
Roasted Pork,
Glass of Schnapps,
Ham und Eggs,
Pork-a-chops,
Pigsen’s Feet,
Sausage Meat,
Little Pigs ist gut to eat!!
YIKES!
This must be a regional thing. I was born and grew up in Germany (Mannheim). Know many “drinking” songs, but never heard of this until I came to US.
it does seem to be more German-American than German
German American for sure…thank you!
grin
Du hast „Mann“ im Liedtext zweimal als „Nann“ geschrieben.
Vielen Dank.
I loved this post! It’s fascinating how the schnitzelbank tradition combines humor and culture. The idea of a song that doubles as a teaching tool is so clever! Looking forward to trying out the song with friends at our next gathering. Thanks for sharing this delightful insight!
Glad you enjoyed it!