"Mark [Textor] points out that Geach's song is apparently based on a poem by Heine. He has translated the song, sustaining the analogy with the poem. I include his translation of Geach, a published translation of the Heine poem, and the German original of the poem (all generously provided by Mark), below. Many thanks to him for his insights and his translation. "This would seem to open up new lines of research in Geach scholarship. Anyone interested in pursuing them (or changing their thesis topic accordingly) should contact Mark. I am merely the sound engineer here."

In (I believe) 1974 Peter Geach came to the Philosophy Department at Tel Aviv University, where I was a young lecturer at the time. After his talk, there was a reception at the home of the Chair of the Department. During the reception Geach expressed the desire to sing a song that he had composed in German about Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, the debate over definite descriptions, and other matters philosophical. I recorded the song on a cassette tape, which became part of my collection, and it accompanied me on my wanderings. It disappeared in our house here for many years until my wife came upon it unexpectedly in a drawer, this past weekend. Some additional rummaging turned up an old tape deck with stereo speakers, long unused. Unfortunately the tape had split, but several days of analogue engineering and a transplant to a blank cassette (amazingly, still available at Mapplin, right here on the Strand) managed to restore it. I have produced an mp3 file of the recording [available till June 5 from this link]. The sound quality is not great, but Geach's lyrics are clear, and he is in fine voice. Enjoy.

Geach’s Philosophical Take on the ‘Lorelei’ (Wittgensteinelei)

"I know not if there is a reason



Why I am so sad at heart."

For Frege explains on so many pages that there is a Sinn.

But fear weighs heavy when nightfalls,

and nothing nothings the No

The peak of the mountain is sparkling

In the furthest Aussersein

The round square twinkles

The King of France is sitting up there

And combing his only hair

With a one tooth comb

And sings a song as well

Which has an enthralling silent melody

In his little boat, Frege hears it with much woe

He does not see the contradictions, he only gazes up the mountain

I believe that the waves will devour Frege and his ship

And this by his song's sheer power



Herr Wittgenstein has done.

Lorelei



By Heinrich Heine



Translated by A.Z. Foreman







I know not if there is a reason



Why I am so sad at heart.



A legend of bygone ages



Haunts me and will not depart.







The air is cool under nightfall.



The calm Rhine courses its way.



The peak of the mountain is sparkling



With evening's final ray.







The fairest of maidens is sitting



Unwittingly wondrous up there,



Her golden jewels are shining,



She's combing her golden hair.







The comb she holds is golden,



She sings a song as well



Whose melody binds an enthralling



And overpowering spell.







In his little boat, the boatman



Is seized with a savage woe,



He'd rather look up at the mountain



Than down at the rocks below.







I think that the waves will devour



The boatman and boat as one;



And this by her song's sheer power



Fair Lorelei has done.







The Original:







Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,



Daß ich so traurig bin;



Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,



Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.







Die Luft ist kühl, und es dunkelt,



Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;



Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt



In Abendsonnenschein.







Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet



Dort oben wunderbar,



Ihr goldenes Geschmeide blitzet,



Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.







Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme



Und singt ein Lied dabei;



Das hat eine wundersame,



Gewaltige Melodei.







Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe



Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;



Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,



Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.







Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen



Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;



Und das hat mit ihrem Singen



Die Lorelei getan.

AND ANOTHER: Ian Rumfitt writes: "Mark Textor is of course correct that Geach's text is a parody of Heine's poem. In fact, Geach is singing his words to the most familiar setting of that poem -- by Friedrich Silcher (1789-1860). While Geach is indeed in fine voice, one can find on YouTube a recording of Silcher's original by the incomparable Richard Tauber."