Bodo Wartke - Barbaras Rhabarberbar (English translation) (2024)

  • Bodo Wartke

    Barbaras Rhabarberbar

Bodo Wartke - Barbaras Rhabarberbar (English translation) (2)

Bodo Wartke - Barbaras Rhabarberbar (English translation) (3)

German

Original lyrics

Barbaras Rhabarberbar

Es war einmal in einem kleinen Städtchen, da

lebte ein Mädchen namens Barbara

Und diese Barbara war im ganzen Land

für ihren abartig guten Rhabarberkuchen bekannt

Ja, man konnte sagen, dass Barbaras

Rhabarberkuchen ohne Wenn und Aber, gar

eine geradezu magische Erfahrung war

Abara Kadabara

Tja, dieser Kuchen war geradezu bombastisch

und die Nachfrage danach erstarkte drastisch

Barbara eröffnete noch im selben Jahr eine Bar

und nannte sie „Barbaras Rhabarberbar“

In der Stadt gab es auch ein paar Barbaren

die hatten von Barbaras Rhabarberbar erfahren

und da sie fortan jeden Tag bei Barbara waren

nannte man sie bald die Rhabarberbarbarbaren

In den Folgejahren ließen die Barbaren nach und nach

ihr barbarisches Gebahren fahren

Sie waren, behauptete Barbara,

fast noch sympathischer als Barbapapa

Aber die Barbaren waren stark behaart

und hatten alle einen struppigen Barbarenbart (gar nicht apart),

daraufhin schickte Barbara

ihre Barbarenfreunde zum Barbarenbartbarbier

Der frisierte den Barbaren sogar den ganzen Kopp

in seinem Barbarenbartbarbier-Barbershop

Er war zwar ein fürchterlicher Laberkopp

Aber der Bart war danach total tipptopp

Darauf luden die Barbaren ihren Bartbarbier fein

nach getaner Arbeit noch in die Rhabarberbar ein

Da tranken sie dann gemeinsam an der Bar noch 'n Bier

Die Rhabarberbarbarbaren und der Bartbarbier

Und aßen dazu bar jeder Barbarei

ein Stück Rhabarberkuchen

Ich glaub, es waren zwei

Ja, da wurden sogar ganz harte Männer nahbar

und das alles dank Barbaras Rhabarber

Drei Barbaren und der Bartbarbier

saßen eines Abends in der Bar bei 'nem Bier,

da kam die Polizei: „Ja, wo wart denn ihr?“

Drei Barbaren und der Bartbarbier

Submitted by Bodo Wartke Der Potcast on 2023-09-26

Last edited by maluca on 2024-06-20

English

Translation

Barbara's rhubarb bar

Once upon a time in a small city, there

lived a girl called Barbara

And this Barbara was known in the entire country

for her abnormally good rhubarb cake

Yes, you could say that Barbara's

rhubarb cake, was without any ifs, ands and buts

a downright magical experience

Abracadabra

Well, this cake was downright amazing

and after, its demand increased drastically

in the same year Barbara opened a bar

and called it “Barbaras Rhabarbar Bar1

In the city there were also a couple barbarians

they found out about Barbara's rhubarb bar

and because after that they were with Barbara daily

they were soon called the rhubarb bar barbarians

In the following years the barbarians let go of their

barbaric behavior little by little

They were, claimed Barbara,

almost friendlier than Barbapapa

But the barbarians were very hairy

and they had all a scrubby barbarian beard (not special at all)

consequently Barbara sent

her barbarian friends to the barbarian beard barber

He even styled the barbarians' entire heads

in his barbarian beard barber barbershop

He was indeed a terrible chatterbox

But after that the beard was totally tiptop

After that the barbarians nicely invited their beard barber

after finished work in the rhubarb bar

Then at the bar they drank a beer together

The rhubarb bar barbarians and the beard barber

And ate in addition without any barbarity

a piece of rhubarb cake

I think it was two

Yes, then even very tough men got approachable

and that all thanks to Barbara's rhubarb

Three barbarians and the beard barber

sat at the bar in the evening with a beer

then the police came: “Well, where were you?”

Three barbarians and the beard barber

  • 1. Barbara's rhubarb bar
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Submitted by celestowja on 2023-12-25

Last edited by celestowja on 2024-05-09

Author's comments:

Many people come to copy this translation to YouTube and other platforms because the song has become very popular among people who do not speak German. I don't mind my translation being copied but please link back to this page! Thank you very much.

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Translations of "Barbaras ..."

English #1, #2, #3

Dutch

Hebrew

Polish

Comments

Shane T Languages

Like

2

Wed, 08/05/2024 - 16:05

Some notes.
Stadt and Städtchen = city and little city.
ohne wenn und aber = (no ifs, ands, or buts) without a doubt , ( there can be no argument)
geradezu = more like downright or literally. ( an expressive modifier ) maybe ... an absolute magical experience!
ein paar = some, can be two or a pair but more often just means some or a few
fahren lassen = means to let go of
nach und nach = little by little

So not stopped their barbaric behavior, rather they let go of it little by little ( but same end result)

bombastisch = super!
I don't think the word bombastic conveys the intended meaning of bombastisch, its dictionary definition is overblown like exaggerated. In the context of the song it seems like it wants to say the pie is good. All the evidence indicates this, so the meaning of bombastisch in German ought to have a positive connotation. In street language the word means more like super ! like awesome.

frisieren = I'm not convinced it means that they had their heads shaved, since the word just means they got their hair cut, rather than shaved. But the fact they are at a barber for beards maybe implies this outcome. I'm curious if frisieren has this meaning in other contexts.
I visualize them getting shaved when I hear it myself.

celestowja

Like

Thu, 09/05/2024 - 11:45

Thanks for the notes.

I already changed ''geradezu'', I don't think it's very simple with all the differing opinions to translate it, but I'll change it
''a couple'' or ''some'', ''few'' means basically the same thing, no? I'll change it, though, it just came to me as a good translation in the moment

Yes, ''frisieren'' being ''styled'' is correct, I think I just misheard the lyrics and had the word ''rasieren'' in my head at the time, and didn't pay enough attention to the song's lyrics

Freigeist

Like

1

Wed, 08/05/2024 - 23:22

>"Der frisierte den Barbaren sogar den ganzen Kopp"
He even styled the barbarians' entire heads

>"Und aßen dazu bar jeder Barbarei"
And ate in addition without any barbarity

celestowja

Like

Thu, 09/05/2024 - 11:49

Thank you, I'll change it
I made the translation when ''bar'' still said ''bei'', I forgot to review it correctly.

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Bodo Wartke - Barbaras Rhabarberbar (English translation) (2024)

FAQs

What language is the Barbara song? ›

The original song is a German tongue-twister that tells an increasingly convoluted story of a woman named Barbara and her legendary rhubarb cakes. Music comedian Bodo Wartke created the original video which sparked the trend.

Who sings the Barbara Rhubarb song? ›

Song and videos

The song and the original music video were created in December 2023 by comedian Bodo Wartke and music producer Marti Fischer. Wartke got the idea of making a humorous rap-like song and video based on the tongue twister, while Fisher created the music and lyrics.

What is the German barber tongue twister? ›

There are tongue twisters in every language, but the rap about Barbara's delicious rhubarb cakes drew on a rich German tradition of single-word tongue twisters, in this case: Rhabarberbarbarabarbarbarenbartbarbierbier (Rhubarb Barbara Bar Barbarians' Beard Barber Beer).

What is the German song about Barbara and her pie? ›

In the German rap, called “Barbara's Rhabarberbar,” a woman known as “Rhubarb Barbara” is renowned for the rhabarberkuchen (rhubarb cake) she sells at her rhubarb bar. A few patrons frequent the bar so often that they're called rhubarb barbarians.

Who wrote the song Barbara? ›

Who choreographed the Barbara song? ›

TikTok content creators @steph_who___ and @Christina Stasii created a dance for the song, writing over the video, “You have a song you can't even understand stuck 24/7.”

Who choreographed the Barbara rhubarb dance? ›

Part of a video titled Barbara's Rhubarb German Viral TikTok Dance tutorial - YouTube
0:00
8:16
We're going to teach you the viral German sensation Barbara's rhubarb Barbara's rhubarb by StephanieMoreWe're going to teach you the viral German sensation Barbara's rhubarb Barbara's rhubarb by Stephanie Graham Stephanie Grant now this song is by these two men who photo Barky. And choreographed by

What language is in the song in your eyes? ›

It features Youssou N'Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. Gabriel's lyrics were inspired by an African tradition of ambiguity in song between romantic love and love of God.

What language is dream girl song? ›

Two years ago, Ir-Sais (real name: Irgwin Placido Sluis) released his single “Dream Girl,” singing about the girl of his dreams in his native language, Papiamento.

What is the origin of the song Barbara Allen? ›

A diary entry by Samuel Pepys on 2 January 1666 contains the earliest extant reference to the song. In it, he recalls the fun and games at a New Years party: ...but above all, my dear Mrs Knipp, with whom I sang; and in perfect pleasure I was to hear her sing, and especially her little Scotch song of Barbary Allen.

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