Bentley on Biermann: Songs and Poems of Wolf Biermann

Poems by 20th-century German poet Wolf Biermann are preformed in English by the British-born American singer and playwright Eric Bentley. Biermann, born in Hamburg and a member of the Communist party, sympathized with East Germany, and moved there in 1953. Outspoken and occasionally critical of the Communist government, Biermann was in turn heavily criticized in the official Communist newspaper Neues Deutschland, which described his poetry as “anarchistic” and “politically perverse,” despite Biermann considering himself a “good” Communist being ruled by “bad Communists.” The liner notes of this 1968 album include a description of Biermann’s life, selected English texts, original German song and poem text, and news clippings.

Track Listing

101	The Song of the Worst Thing	Eric Bentley	01:09
102	Ballad of the Poet François Villon	Eric Bentley	04:56
103	Ballad of the Letter Carrier William L. Moore	Eric Bentley	05:09
104	The Barlach Song	Eric Bentley	02:01
105	Nothing to It	Eric Bentley	02:03
106	Comrade Julián Grimau	Eric Bentley	02:12
107	Ballad of the Man	Eric Bentley	02:44
108	Legend of the Soldier in World War III	Eric Bentley	02:20
201	Ballad of Fredi Rohsmeisel	Eric Bentley	03:49
202	Do Not Wait for Better Times	Eric Bentley	03:21
203	Early Morning	Eric Bentley	00:35
204	The Singers Inagural Address	Eric Bentley	01:33
205	Toys	Eric Bentley	00:47
206	To the Old Comrade	Eric Bentley	03:12
207	Reckless Abuse	Eric Bentley	02:53
208	Germany: A Winter's Tale	Eric Bentley	03:04
209	December 1965, Question and Answer...	Eric Bentley	01:59
210	Soldatenmelodie	Eric Bentley	01:26