Mid-Week Music #43 - Hearts of Iron

Well, another Sabaton song! And this time, it’s one without an alternate version sung by a trio of 1940s wartime chicks! But like that one, there are a couple of reasons why I picked this song. No, it’s not somebody’s birthday this time.

The first reason is because of the subject of the song—Nazi Germany at the end of World War II. Surprising, I’m sure. You see, recently, our household has been talking a lot about World War II, and Nazi Germany in particular. But I won’t go into specifics about it. Why? Quite plainly, I’m sick of it. It’s a matter I never had to think about much before, and now everybody around me seems to be talking about it. But World War II was the general topic.

The other reason is because of the music itself. Well, mainly, the musical interlude of the song—it’s a piece by Bach. I’ll make it no secret that I consider him the best classical German composer, and probably the best classical composer period. Not that the others weren’t good, but… well, you know. He’s just better.

The point of my bringing it up was that tonight after Bible Study, we heard a member of our congregation playing the organ in the chapel. And he was playing Bach. It had been a while since I’d listened to his music, so I stood by the door and listened. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was. I kept listening all the way down the hall. We even listened to a piece by Bach on the way to the store.

And then… we went into the store, and were subject to what I call Food Lion Music. Modern popular music that they always play over the speakers in Food Lion. The effect was almost painful. I don’t usually notice how absolutely mind-numbing that kind of music is, but after something with the complexity of Bach, you can bet I noticed it. I mean, come on! It’s not against the law to play more than two chords in an entire song!

One of the Bach pieces we listened to was where he composed a counterpoint using only a few notes—a dozen, maybe fifteen. He used those notes, and no others, over and over again, in different variations. I doubt these modern musicians could compose a song using that many notes, let alone a counterpoint.

I’m probably not being fair to the musicians. If they were to put actual effort into their work, they could probably create actual melodies. They could probably even create some interesting ones. But they don’t put the effort in, and it shows.

The real point, I guess, is the comparison between Food Lion Music and Johann Sebastian Bach. Sabaton certainly seems to know the difference. And, unlike most modern musicians, they actually put effort into their songs! That’s another reason I chose this song: it’s nothing like Food Lion Music.

Plus, we just happened to listen to this song tonight. So it was pretty easy to settle on “Hearts of Iron” for this week’s MWM. Enjoy the story, and the music!

See the Reich in flames
Try to save Berlin in vain
It’s a road through death and pain
On the other shore, there’s the end of the war…
 
Who could ever have believed?
Seems like nothing’s been achieved
Just to walk a day, go all the way
The fronts are closing in
 
As the end is drawing near
The 12^th Army interfere
Open up a route, get people out
Its forces spread out thin
 
It’s the end of the war (hold the corridor!)
Reach for Elbe’s shore
 
[chorus]
It’s the end, the war has been lost
Keeping them safe ‘til the river’s been crossed
Nicht ein Schlact, ein Rettungsaktion
Holding their ground ‘til the final platoon
Hurry up, we’re waiting for you
Men of the 9^th and civilians too
Dispossessed, surrendering to the West…
 
Who’ll survive and who will die?
Up to Kriegslück to decide
Those who made it ‘cross without a loss
Have reason to reflect
 
It is not about Berlin
It is not about the Reich
It’s about the men who fought for them
What peace can they expect?
 
It’s the end of the war (hold the corridor!)
Reach for Elbe’s shore
 
[chorus]
 
See the city burn on the other side
Going down in flames as two worlds collide
Who can now look back with a sense of pride?
On the other shore, there’s the end of the war
 
[repeat]
 
***
 
[chorus]
It’s the end, the war has been lost
Keeping them safe ‘til the river’s been crossed
Nicht ein Schlact, ein Rettungsaktion
Holding their ground ‘til the final platoon
Hurry up, we’re waiting for you
Men of the 9^th and civilians too
Dispossessed, surrendering to the (West)
 
See the city burn on the other side
Going down in flames as two worlds collide
Who can now look back with a sense of pride?
On the other shore, there’s the end of the war
 
[repeat]
 
See the city burn on the other side
(See the Reich in flames)
Going down in flames as two worlds collide
(Try to save Berlin in vain)
Who can now look back with a sense of pride?
(It’s a road through death and pain)
On the other shore, there’s the end of the war…