The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the
bacchanalian mayhem of student life, similar as in
Gaudeamus igitur. The song describes, with some references to the
Classics, an
old Assyrian drinking binge of a man in an inn. The tables are made of marble and the large invoice is being provided in
cuneiform on bricks. However the carouser has to admit that he left his money already in
Nineveh. A Nubian house servant kicks him out then and the song closes with the notion, that (compare
John 4:44) a prophet has no honor in his own country, if he doesn't pay cash for his consumption.
Charles Godfrey Leland has translated the poems among other works of Scheffel. Each stanza begins with the verse ", but varies the outcome. The initial is often stretched for humorous effect. Some of the stanzas: Im schwarzen Wallfisch zu Ascalon Da trank ein Mann drei Tag', Bis dass er steif wie ein Besenstiel Am Marmortische lag. ... In the Black Whale at Ascalon A man drank day by day, Till, stiff as any broom-handle, Upon the floor he lay. ... {{Image frame|content= % Sources: https://www.lieder-archiv.de/im_schwarzen_walfisch_zu_askalon-notenblatt_600700.html % and https://www.deutschland-lese.de/streifzuege/lieder/studentenlieder/im-schwarzen-walfisch-zu-askalon/ \header { tagline = ##f } \layout { indent = 0 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key d \major \time 6/8 \partial 8 } chordNames = \chordmode { \global \set midiInstrument = "acoustic guitar (nylon)" \set chordChanges = ##t d,8 | d,2. | a,2. | g,2. | d,2 s8 \repeat volta 2 { a,8:7 | a,4.:7 g,4. | d,2. | } \alternative { { a,4. fis,4.:m | d,4 g,8 d,8 s8 } { g,4.:6 a,4.:7 | d,2 s8 \bar "|." } } } sopranoVoice = \relative c'' { \global \set midiInstrument = "brass section" \autoBeamOff \tempo 4=15 a,8 \tempo 4=100| d4 d8 fis8. e16 d8 | e4 e8 g8. [fis16] e8 | b4 b8 d8. [cis16] b8 | fis'4. ~fis8 r8 \break \repeat volta 2 { a8 | a4 g8 b,4 g'8 | g4 fis8 a,4 fis'8 | } \alternative { { fis4 e8 fis4 g8 | a4 (b8 a8) r8 } { fis4 e8 g4 fis8 | d4. ~d8 r8 \bar "|." } } } verse = \lyricmode { Im schwar -- zen Wal -- fisch zu As -- ka -- lon, __ da trank ein Mann __ drei Tag', __ \repeat volta 2 { bis dass er steif wie'n Be -- sen -- stiel am } \alternative { { Mar -- mor -- tisch -- e lag. __ } { Mar -- mor -- tisch -- e lag. __ } } } \score { > \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats { > } \midi { \tempo 4=100 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } } }} Im Schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon, da bracht' der Kellner Schar, In Keilschrift auf sechs Ziegelstein dem Gast die Rechnung dar. ... Im schwarzen Walfisch zu Askalon wird kein Prophet geehrt, und wer vergnügt dort leben will, zahlt bar, was er verzehrt. In the Black Whale at Ascalon The waiters brought the bill, In arrow-heads on six broad tiles To him who thus did swill. ... In the Black Whale at Ascalon No prophet hath renown; And he who there would drink in peace Must pay the money down. In the typical manner of Scheffel, it contains an anachronistic mixture of various times and eras, parodistic notions on current science, as e.g.
Historical criticism and interpretations of the
Book of Jonah as a mere shipwrecking narrative. There are various additional verses, including political parodies and verses mocking different sorts of
fraternities. The song has been used as name for traditional inns and restaurants, e.g. in Heidelberg and
Bad Säckingen. In Bad Säckingen the name was used on several (consecutive) inns and for the still existing club "Walfisch Gesellschaft Säckingen" (Walfischia), honoring Scheffel. == Mathematics International ==