17 - “Leute höret die Geschichte” (“Des Morgens in der vierten Stunde”)

Summary

THE SONG “Leute höret die Geschichte” (People, Listen to the Story), otherwise known as “Des Morgens in der vierten Stunde” (In the Fourth Hour of the Morning), is a political song describing the execution of the democratic member of parliament, Robert Blum, on November 9, 1848. It is one of numerous poems and songs that emerged in memory of Blum. On account of his support for the Viennese October uprising, Blum was put straight before a firing squad, despite his immunity as a member of the Frankfurt National Assembly. The author of “Leute höret die Geschichte” is unknown—one can only speculate on its place and time of origin. Primarily orally transmitted, it was still known in many German-speaking regions in the first half of the twentieth century. It generally played no significant role, however, in the revival of the 1848 songs in the folk scenes of the Federal Republic and the GDR from the 1960s onwards.

The author of “Leute höret die Geschichte” is unknown, as is its date of origin. The form and subject matter of the song suggest it could have initially circulated as a street ballad shortly after the execution of Blum— that is in the late-1848 to 1849 period. However, there is not a single verifiable source from the nineteenth century that confirms its existence. At the same time, the text that has been handed down contains lines that demonstrate a clear temporal distance to the actual historical events. We do know, however, that it was in oral circulation by the turn of the century at the latest, and that it was known in several German-speaking regions, the earliest documentation being from the year 1907.

The song tells of the last hours of Robert Blum, the progressive democrat who was executed on November 9, 1848, near Vienna. Versions of the handed-down text show a great variation—a consequence of the extent of its oral circulation. Nevertheless, from the narrative structure one can recognize a basic model of six verses: The first verse, written in the characteristic style of a street ballad addressing a crowd, draws attention to the sad fate of Robert Blum.