The Machtlos Song

Das Machtlos Lied (the Machtlos Song) is a folk anthem about the village of Machtlos by Ronshausen, in the Hessen-Kassel region of Germany. The composer and the writer of the original lyrics are unknown. A rough sketch of sheet music was created several decades ago, and a few years ago Machtlos resident Ralf Bettenhausen uploaded a scan of the sheet music online although the image was blurry and pixelated. In 2021, Josiah Schmidt re-transcribed the music in digital form and translated the German lyrics into an English version.

Click below to download the new sheet music for the Machtlos Song:

The original German lyrics are:

Ja, Waldhessen ist mein schönes Heimatland.
Wo der Bach sich schlängelt wie ein Silberband,
Feld und Wald sich friedlich aneinander schmiegt
|:wo im Tal das schöne Dörfchen Machtlos liegt:|

Wo vom Kirchturm hell und klar das Glöcklein klingt
froh die Lerche in die blaue Luft sich schwingt
wo der Kuckuck ruft weit in das Tal hinaus
|:da ist meine Heimat, da bin ich zu Haus.:|

Wo das Feriendorf am Bellersberg dort steht
und man sonntags gern zur “Steinbachquelle” geht,
wo der Steinkopf grüßt weit in die Flur hinein
|:da ist meine Heimat, da bin ich daheim.:|

Kehrst du wieder einst und suchst die Jugendzeit
singst mit Freunden Lieder, weil du nie bereut,
daß die Tannen sangen dir dein Wiegenlied
|:deine Heimatliebe dir im Herzen liegt:|

English Translation (by Josiah Schmidt):

Hessen-Kassel is my beautiful homeland.
Where the creek meanders like a silver band.
Field and forest peacefully together tie,
|:in the vale where lovely village Machtlos lies.:|

Where the church bells bright and clear from steeple ring,
Happily the larks in the blue air do swing,
Where the cuckoo calls out and the roe deer roam,
|:There is my homeland, there am I at home.:|

Where the cottagers on Bellers Hill do stay,
Where one goes to Steinbach Fountain each Sunday,
Where the stonehead greets you in the meadow deep,
|:There is my homeland, there my heart I keep.:|

Will you come back longing for your youth one day,
Singing songs with friends because you’ll always say,
There the fir trees sang to you your lullaby,
|:In your heart your love for homeland never dies.:|

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