"Trotz Alledem" is a translation of the Scottish poem "For All That" by Robert Burns. It was translation by Ferdinand Freiligrath, who wrote two versions. First in 1843, he directly translated the English lyrics, then again in 1848 he made a new, more explicitly political version based on the events of the 1848 German Revolutions. Freiligrath's versions were originally not sung to the Scottish melody, instead sung to "Als Noah aus dem Kasten war" a German drinking song. "Trotz alledem", originally a personal catchphrase of Freiligrath's, became somewhat of a catchphrase for the whole German labour movement. Though the song stayed within the German political consciousness of the left, the 1843 translation was more popular than the 1848 translation, that is until the end of the Second World War. After the Second World War in the newly established German Democratic Republic, Ernst Busch promoted both versions of the lyrics, and popularised them being sung to the original melody. The version shown here is a mashup of the 1843 and 1848 versions. It is a decidedly more hopeful version than the 1848 version, with most of the more tragic verses being left out, perhaps reflecting the desires of the new Marxist-Leninist regime in East Germany to inspire optimism and hope in her citizen's.

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LYRICS:
German
Das war ’ne heiße Märzenzeit,
Trotz Regen, Schnee und alledem!
Nun aber, da es Blüten schneit,
Nun ist es kalt, trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem, trotz alledem,
Trotz Parlament und alledem,
Wir werden unsre Büchsen los,
Soldatenwild, trotz alledem!

Trotz alledem, trotz alledem, trotz alledem!

Doch sind wir frisch und wohlgemut,
Und zagen nicht trotz alledem!
In tiefer Brust des Zornes Glut,
Die hält uns warm trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem, trotz alledem,
Trotz Dummheit, List und alledem,
Wir wissen doch: die Menschlichkeit,
Behält den Sieg, trotz alledem!,

Trotz alledem, trotz alledem, trotz alledem!

Ein Fürst macht Ritter, wenn er spricht,
Mit Sporn und Schild und alledem!
Hebt hoch die Stirn, trotz alledem!
Trotz alledem, trotz alledem,
Es kommt dahin, trotz alledem,
Daß rings der Mensch die Bruderhand,
Dem Menschen reicht, trotz alledem!

Trotz alledem, trotz alledem, trotz alledem!

English
It was a hot time in March,
In spite of rain and snow and all of that!
But now the snow blossoms here,
It's cold now, despite all that!
Despite all that, and all of that,
Despite parliament and all of that,
We'll be without our rifles,
Willing soldiers, despite all that!

Despite all that, despite all that, despite all that!

Yet we are fresh and cheerful,
We don't tremble, despite all that!
Deep in our hearts is anger's glow,
It keeps us warm despite all that!
Despite all that, and all of that,
Despite stupidity, tickery and all of that,
We really know: humanity,
Shall keep the victory, despite all that!

Despite all that, despite all that, despite all that!

A prince can make a man a knight,
With spur and shield and all of that!
So hold your head high, despite all that!
Despite all that, and all of that,
Its coming then, despite all that,
That for all men, a brother's hand,
Shall be enough, despite all that!

Despite all that, despite all that, despite all that!

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