Given that the Kleptocrat has taken one gigantic goose-step forward into authoritarianism by sending National Guard troops into DC because DOGiEboy Big Balls got mugged by a 15-year-old girl, I don’t see how today’s earworm could be anything except the “Horst Wessel Lied”. (Sorry—"Lied" means "Song" in German.)
Horst Wessel, in case you don’t know, was the
son of a Lutheran minister who felt an affinity for rightwing politics in 1920s
Germany. At age 19, he joined the Sturmabteilung (SA) essentially the outright-thug
arm of the Nazi Party. He wasn’t particularly notable in this pursuit, but when
he died in a fight with a couple of Communists four years later (in 1930)—possibly
over procuring women or maybe because of failure to pay rent—he became the
biggest Nazi martyr since the 15 who were killed in the Beer Hall Putsch.
One of his activities as a Nazi was to write songs; among these was "Die Fahne hoch!" ("Raise the flag high!"), which became the "Horst Wessel Lied" after his death. (I mean, it's got a great beat; you can march into conquered cities to it. I give it a 3.) As an SA squad leader he was known for particular brutality, even by Nazi standards. Terror was his thing.
In so many ways Wessel is quite the role
model for today’s MAGA crowd: unsuccessful by societal standards, resentful,
ready to put it all on the line for a Great Man who tells them he’ll fix it all
for them. And—in the end—completely expendable. (If not, in fact, more valuable
dead than alive.)
I had quite the merry old time finding a video that actually has the vocals, and every posting on YouTube carries the caveat that this music is strictly for educational/historical purposes. Another year or so of Cadet Bonespurs, they may be able to dispense with those disclaimers.
©2025 Bas Bleu
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