Music, Patriotism and Austrian Stupidity

It’s May 17th, Constitution Day here in Lord Bassington-Bassington’s homeland of Norway. This makes it appropriate to share some thoughts about patriotism expressed through music and lyrics.

While His Lordship is undoubtedly fond of his country, he finds much patriotic and nationalistic music hard to swallow. Sure, he loves his country, but he finds the blindly insisting patriotism that characterizes such music somewhat, well, un-Norwegian. For while Norwegians tend to be fond of their country, they are often acutely aware of its faults.

While songs that express such pragmatic patriotism are hard to come by in Norway, there is an outstanding example of this in another mountainous country with a glorious past, namely Austria.

In Austria, the Austropop singer Rainhard Fendrich’s song “I Am From Austria” serves as an unofficial national anthem. The song is not only a beautiful pop song, but also a very moving meditation on what it means to have – and love – a country.



(Mr. Fendrich)

This live version of “I Am From Austria” is performed by the group Austria 3 which consists of Fendrich himself, and renowned Austrian singers Wolfgang Ambros and Georg Danzer.



While Southern dialects of German are very beautiful, Mr. Fendrich’s Alemannic dialect can be a tough nut to crack even for people who have some familiarity with German. So The Chronicles would like to provide a transcripton of the original Alemannic lyrics, taken from this website.

I am from Austria

Dei hohe zeit is lang vorüber
und a die höh' hast hinter dir
von ruhm und glanz is wenig übersag ma wer ziagt no den huat vur dia
ausser mir

I kenn die Leit', I kenn di Ratten
die Dummheit die zum Himmel schreit
I steh zu dir
bei Licht und Schattenjeder Zeit

Do kann i moch'n wos I wül
Do bin i Herr do kea I hin
Do schmützt des Eis von meiner Sö (Seele)
Wia von am Gletscher im April
A wenn ma's schon vergessn ham'
I bin dei Apfel du mei Stamm.
So wia dei Wasser talwärts rinntunwiederstehlich und so hell
fast wia die Tränen von am Kindwird a mei Bluat auf amoi (einmal) schö
Sog i am Mensch der Welt vio stolzund wann ihr woits a ganz allan (allein)
I am from Austria

Es war'n die Störche oft zu beneiden
Heit fliag i no
füh weiter fuat.I siech die meist, nur von da weit'n
wer kann versteh'n wia weh des monchmoi tuat

Do kann i moch'n wos I wül
Do bin i Herr do kea I hin
Do schmützt des Eis von meiner Sö (Seele)
Wia von am Gletscher im April
A wenn ma's schon vergessn ham'
I bin dei Apfel du mei Stamm.
So wia dei Wasser talwärts rinntunwiederstehlich und so hell
fast wia die Tränen von am Kindwird a mei Bluat auf amoi (einmal) schö
Sog i am Mensch der Welt vio stolzund wann ihr woits a ganz allan (allein)
I am from Austria


And for those reader of the Chronicles who do not know German or Alemannic at all, here’s a translation kindly provided by that staunch Styrian, Mrs. Dea. Vielen Dank!

In am from Austria

Your high time is already gone
And you even left hell behind
There’s only a little bit left from glance and glory, tell me who’s
Going to take his hat off to you

I know the people, I know the rats
Stupidity screaming to the sky
I stand by you
In light and darkness, all the time

I can do what I want,
Here I come from and to here I belong
Ice is melting from my soul
Like from a glacier in april
Even if we already forgot about it
I’m your apple you’re my trunk

As your water is running down
Irresistible and so bright
Just like the tears of a child
And my blood is getting fast
So I tell the world full of pride
And if you want completely alone
I am from Austria

I often envied storks
Today I’m flying away even further
I often see you only from the distance
Who can understand how much that hurts

I can do what I want,
Here I come from and to here I belong
Ice is melting from my soul
Like from a glacier in April
Even if we already forgot about it
I’m your apple you’re my trunk

As your water is running down
Irresistible and so bright
Just like the tears of a child
And my blood is getting fast
So I tell the world full of pride
And if you want completely alone
I am from Austria


Just as love of a woman, patriotism can be blind. But his this is true love, true patriotism: To see the flaws of one’s beloved clearly, but to still sing its praise.

Happy birthday, Norway!