"Peat Bog Soldiers" lyrics - THE CHAD MITCHELL TRIO

Wohin auch das Auge blicket
Moor und Heide nur ringsum
Vogelsang uns nicht erquicket
Eichen stehen kahl und krumm

Wir sind die Moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit dem spaten ins Moor
Wir sind die Moorsoldaten
Und ziehen mit dem spaten ins Moor

[Spoken Intro (John Denver):]
In the early 1930s, the concentration camps of Germany began filling up with hundreds, then thousands, then hundreds of thousands of Hitler's political enemies.
These were the men who resisted the Nazi tyranny until they had to be destroyed. But they always dreamed of freedom, if not for themselves, then for their children.

Far and wide as the eye can wander
Heath and bog are everywhere
Not a bird sings out to cheer us
Trees are standing gaunt and bare

[Chorus:]
We are the Peat Bog Soldiers
We're marching with our spades to the bog
We are the Peat Bog Soldiers
We're marching with our spades to the bog

Up and down the guards are pacing
No one, no one, can go through
Flight would mean a sure death facing
Guns and barbed wire greet our view

[Chorus]

But for us there is no complaining
Winter will in time be past
One day we shall cry rejoicing
"Homeland dear, you're mine at last"

Then will the Peat Bog Soldiers
March no more with their spades to the bog
Dann sind die Moorsoldaten
Nicht vergeht dem spaten ins Moor